On this page · 7 sections
- How long does a UK ETA take, and what does each option cost?
- What does the UK ETA decision time include and leave out?
- Why do some UK ETA applications take longer?
- How far in advance should I apply for a UK ETA?
- Can I travel to the UK while my ETA is pending, or get one at the airport?
- What if my passport is not on the UK ETA list?
- Why use PassportsAndVisas.com for your United Kingdom ETA?
Key Takeaways
- A UK ETA decision arrives by email with a 16-digit reference number, and you must have that email before you travel.
- PassportsAndVisas.com completes and checks your UK ETA application, from $96 with the government fee included, with options as fast as 1 day door to door.
- A UK ETA lasts 730 days and covers repeat visits of up to 180 days each, so applying early costs you nothing.
- Every traveler, children included, needs their own UK ETA, and group members can get their decisions at different times.
- A UK ETA cannot be obtained at the airport, because airlines check your approval before you board.
How long does a UK ETA take, and what does each option cost?
A UK ETA with PassportsAndVisas.com is 1 day door to door at every speed, and the totals below include the government fee.
| Option | Total you pay (includes the government fee) | Door to door |
|---|---|---|
| UK ETA, Standard | $106 | 1 day |
| UK ETA, Rush | $126 | 1 day |
| UK ETA, Emergency | $176 | 1 day |
Every total includes the government fee of $27; nothing is paid separately. The ETA is valid for 730 days and allows repeat trips of up to 180 days each.
For comparison, another service lists its UK ETA at total $129.99 (service $102.99, government $27) as fast as 15 minutes. Our Standard option is $106 in all.
What does the UK ETA decision time include and leave out?
The UK ETA government decision takes 0-3 days, and our door-to-door figure already includes it.
| Stage | Time | Type |
|---|---|---|
| We complete and check your application Your photo and answers are checked before anything is submitted. | Included in door to door | PassportsAndVisas.com |
| Government decision The decision is the government's alone. | 0-3 days, included in door to door | Government processing |
| Approval email with your 16-digit reference number Wait for this email before you set off. | 1 day door to door at our Standard speed | PassportsAndVisas.com |
Applying through us does not make the government decide any faster, and no service can. What we add is a correct, checked application, which is the part you control.
Why do some UK ETA applications take longer?
A UK ETA can take longer when the photo does not meet the digital photo rules, when a caseworker reviews the application, or when it is sent for manual review.
| Cause | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A photo that does not meet the digital photo rules | It can delay or sink the application, and a mistake means starting a new one. | We check your photo before the application goes in. |
| A criminal record or a past refusal of entry | A caseworker reviews the application, which can take longer. | Answer every question honestly. We check your answers before submission. |
| Manual review | Many decisions come through quickly, but a small number of applications are sent for manual review. | Apply as soon as your trip is booked so a review does not catch you at the airport. |
| Group applications | People applying together can get their decisions at different times. | Make sure everyone has their approval email before you head to the airport. |
How far in advance should I apply for a UK ETA?
Apply for a UK ETA as soon as your trip is booked, and always before you check in for your flight.
One ETA covers many trips and lasts 730 days, or until your passport expires if that is sooner, so applying early carries little risk.
Check your passport's expiry date first, because a new passport means a new ETA. Each traveler, children included, needs their own.
If your flight is only days away, the Emergency option is $176 total and 1 day door to door. Applying earlier is the only way to give the government decision more room.
Can I travel to the UK while my ETA is pending, or get one at the airport?
No. A pending UK ETA is not enough, and an ETA cannot be obtained at the airport, because your airline checks your approval before you board.
Airlines, ferry operators and rail companies check your permission electronically before departure, so the problem shows up at check-in, not at the UK border. The same applies if you change flights in the UK and pass through border control.
If you applied for family members, make sure each person is approved before you leave for the airport. If no email has arrived after the normal wait, check your spam or junk folder.
There is nothing to print. Save the 16-digit reference number on your phone and travel on the same passport you applied with.
Reader unsure which passport group applies
Ask Sarah a question →What if my passport is not on the UK ETA list?
The UK ETA is for 89 passports, and other passports need a different permission, so the answer depends on your passport.
- ETA passports: 89 passports, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Germany and France, use the ETA. This guide applies to you.
- Visa passports: 115 passports, including India, China, Nigeria, Turkey and the Philippines, need a Standard Visitor visa from an embassy or consulate, and an ETA cannot replace it. Our Standard option is $331 total, government fee included, and 36 days door to door.
- No permit needed: Irish, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man and Jersey passports need neither. Dual British or Irish citizens travel on that passport.
Not sure which group you are in? Use our visa checker or see the United Kingdom page. For another timing guide, see how long a Nigerian visa takes.
Why use PassportsAndVisas.com for your United Kingdom ETA?
PassportsAndVisas.com completes your UK ETA application, checks your photo and answers before it is submitted, and includes the government fee in one total.
- We complete the application for you and check every answer and photo first.
- Our price includes the government fee: $106 Standard, $126 Rush, $176 Emergency.
- You upload everything online from a phone or computer. Nothing is shipped.
- A registered passport expediter since 1992, with 500K+ travelers served and 11,766 reviews. We are a private company, not the government.
Ask Sarah about your United Kingdom ETA. Our team is also on (800) 860-8610.