On this page · 6 sections
- How long is a UK ETA valid, and how long can I stay?
- What does the stay per visit include, and what does it not cover?
- Can I make more than one trip on a UK ETA?
- What can shorten or end the validity of my UK ETA?
- How far ahead should I apply, and can I get a UK ETA at the airport?
- Why PassportsAndVisas.com for your UK ETA?
Key Takeaways
- A UK ETA is tied to one passport, so a new passport means a new ETA application.
- PassportsAndVisas.com completes your UK ETA application and pre-checks the details against your passport, as a registered passport expediter since 1992.
- Validity and stay are two different things: how long the ETA lasts is not how long each visit can be.
- An ETA is checked before you board, so it cannot be arranged at the airport or on arrival.
- An ETA covers short visits such as tourism, family visits and business meetings; it is not a document for working or living in the UK.
How long is a UK ETA valid, and how long can I stay?
A UK ETA has two separate limits: how long the authorization stays valid, and how long each visit can last. The validity belongs to the ETA; the stay belongs to each trip you take on it.
A UK ETA has two separate limits: how long the authorization stays valid, and how long each visit can last. The validity belongs to the ETA. The stay belongs to each trip you take on it.
| What you want to know | How it works |
|---|---|
| What the ETA is linked to | Your passport. The ETA belongs to the passport number you applied with. |
| Validity | Set by the ETA and by your passport. The passport you applied with matters. |
| Stay per visit | A limit for each trip, not a total across trips. |
| Applying with us | We complete the application and check every detail against your passport before it goes in. |
Which passports need a UK ETA, and which are exempt, depends on the passport you hold. Use our visa checker to find your own answer.
What does the stay per visit include, and what does it not cover?
A UK ETA stay applies to each visit and covers short trips such as tourism, family visits, business meetings and short study. It is not permission to work or live in the UK.
A UK ETA stay applies to each visit and covers short trips such as tourism, family visits, business meetings and short study. It is not permission to work or live in the UK.
- Covered: tourism, visiting family and friends, business meetings, short study, and transit through border control.
- Not covered: working in the UK, living in the UK, or any plan that is really a long stay.
- Never promised: a border officer decides on entry when you arrive, so an ETA does not promise admission.
If your plan involves work or a longer stay, an ETA is the wrong document. A visa for that purpose is a different application.
Can I make more than one trip on a UK ETA?
A UK ETA is an authorization you can use for repeat trips while it remains valid and linked to the same passport. Each trip has its own stay limit, and the stay does not carry over between visits.
A UK ETA is an authorization you can use for repeat trips while it remains valid and linked to the same passport. Each trip has its own stay limit, so the stay does not add up across visits.
Staying for the full limit and then returning right away is a decision for the border officer on arrival. Plan each trip as its own visit with a clear reason to travel.
What can shorten or end the validity of my UK ETA?
A UK ETA is cut short by anything that changes the passport it is linked to: passport expiry, a new passport, or changed personal details. In each case a fresh application is the fix.
| Cause | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Your passport expires | The ETA is linked to that passport, so it cannot outlast it. A passport that expires soon cannot carry an ETA beyond its own expiry date. | Renew the passport first, then apply for a new ETA on the new passport. |
| You get a new passport | The ETA is tied to the passport number, so the new passport is not covered. | Apply for a new ETA with the new passport details before you fly. |
| Your name or nationality changes | The ETA must match your passport exactly. | Make a fresh application with the updated details. |
| You apply with one passport and fly on another | Airlines check the ETA against the passport you present at check-in. | Use the same passport for the ETA, the booking and the flight. |
If your passport is close to expiring, our passport renewal service gets the new passport sorted first, and our guide to how long a passport is valid explains the dates.
How far ahead should I apply, and can I get a UK ETA at the airport?
A UK ETA cannot be arranged at the airport or on arrival, because airlines check it before you board. Apply before you book non-refundable travel.
A UK ETA cannot be arranged at the airport or on arrival, because airlines check it before you board. Apply before you book non-refundable travel, so a delay never costs you the trip.
- Check your passport name, number and expiry date before you start.
- Use the same passport for the ETA and the flight.
- Apply before booking non-refundable flights or hotels.
Why PassportsAndVisas.com for your UK ETA?
PassportsAndVisas.com completes your UK ETA application for you and checks every detail against your passport before it is submitted. We have been a registered passport expediter since 1992.
PassportsAndVisas.com completes your UK ETA application for you and checks every detail against your passport before it is submitted. We are a private company, not the U.S. government, and a registered passport expediter since 1992.
- We complete it: we prepare your application so you are not filling it in alone.
- We check it: your details are checked against the passport you will fly on.
- We keep you updated: you hear from us as your application moves.
PassportsAndVisas.com assists with processing U.S. passports and travel visas globally. See other destinations with our visa checker.
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