On this page · 8 sections
- What should I do first if my UK ETA is delayed or rejected?
- What causes a UK ETA delay or rejection?
- How do I tell whether my ETA is delayed, rejected or just slow?
- What are the steps if my UK ETA is delayed?
- What are the steps if my UK ETA is rejected?
- What happens if I turn up without an approved ETA?
- When should I get help, and what can PassportsAndVisas.com do?
- How do I prevent a UK ETA problem next time?
Key Takeaways
- A pending UK ETA is not an approved ETA, so a processing confirmation alone does not let you board a flight, train or ferry to the UK.
- PassportsAndVisas.com has handled travel documents since 1992, and our document pre-check caught a missing or unusable document on of applications in .
- A rejected UK ETA caused by a typing mistake in your passport details or email is fixed by correcting the details and applying again.
- A refused UK ETA that is not a typing error means a different route, such as a Standard Visitor Visa, where you can give a fuller explanation and supporting evidence.
- A UK ETA problem is far easier to absorb when you apply with a generous buffer before departure and never book non-refundable extras on a pending ETA.
What should I do first if my UK ETA is delayed or rejected?
A delayed or rejected UK ETA means you do not travel until you hold an approved ETA or another valid permission to enter the UK. What you do next depends on whether your ETA is still pending or has been refused.
| If… | Then… |
|---|---|
| Your ETA shows only a processing confirmation | Treat it as pending. Wait for the decision and do not travel or book non-refundable extras on it. |
| Your ETA is refused because of a typing mistake in your details | Correct the passport, name, date of birth or email details and submit a new application. |
| Your ETA is refused and you cannot see a simple error | Do not keep resubmitting. Plan a different route, such as a Standard Visitor Visa, with supporting evidence. |
| Your departure date is very close | Protect the trip first: talk to the airline about flexibility, and get any passport problem fixed in parallel. |
Airlines, rail and ferry operators check for an approved ETA before they let you board, so a pending status does not get you to the UK.
Reader is trying to work out which problem they have
Ask Sarah a question →What causes a UK ETA delay or rejection?
A UK ETA is delayed or rejected for a handful of common reasons: extra checks, mistakes in the application details, an unusable photo, or past issues on a traveler's record.
| Cause | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Extra checks on the application | Some applications take longer to decide than others, and the decision is the government's alone. | Wait for the decision, and do not travel on a pending status. |
| A typing mistake in passport details | A wrong passport number, name or date of birth does not match your passport, so the application cannot be approved. | Compare every detail with your passport page, then apply again with the corrected details. |
| A wrong or mistyped email address | A decision can be sent to an address you cannot see, so a decided application looks like a delayed one. | Check inbox, spam and junk folders, and use the correct email address on any new application. |
| An unclear or unusable photo | A photo that does not clearly show your face can hold up or sink an application. | Use a clear, recent, well-lit photo of your face and submit a fresh application. |
| Past criminal convictions or immigration breaches | These can lead to a refusal that retyping details will not change. | Apply for a Standard Visitor Visa, where you can explain the context and add supporting evidence. |
| A passport that is expired, damaged or about to expire | An ETA is tied to the passport you apply with, and a passport that is unusable stops the trip even if the ETA is approved. | Renew or replace the passport first, then apply again with the new passport details. |
How do I tell whether my ETA is delayed, rejected or just slow?
An ETA is slow when you hold only a processing confirmation and no decision, delayed when it stays undecided well past the usual wait, and rejected when you have a refusal notice.
| If… | Then… |
|---|---|
| You have a processing confirmation and no decision yet | It is pending. Keep waiting and keep checking your inbox, including spam. |
| A long time has passed with no decision and no refusal | It is delayed. Re-read your application details for mistakes and follow up on the application. |
| You have a refusal notice | It is rejected. Read the reason, then follow the rejected-ETA steps below. |
| You have an approval message | It is approved. Check the name and passport number on it match your passport exactly. |
What are the steps if my UK ETA is delayed?
If a UK ETA is delayed, you hold your travel plans steady, check your details, wait for the decision and protect your trip dates.
- Do not travel on a pending ETADo not board or buy non-refundable extras such as tours, tickets or stays until you hold an approved ETA.
- Check your email and spam foldersA decision may already be waiting in an inbox you have not looked at.
- Re-read the details you submittedCompare the passport number, name, date of birth and email with your passport page and look for typos.
- Give the decision its full timeThe government decides, and chasing the same application does not speed it up.
- Protect your trip datesIf departure is close, ask your airline and hotels about changing dates, and keep your bookings flexible.
- Or let us handle the passport sideIf the delay is also tied to an expired, damaged or lost passport, PassportsAndVisas.com can take that part off your plate, with your documents pre-checked first.
What are the steps if my UK ETA is rejected?
If a UK ETA is rejected, you read the reason, fix any error and reapply, or choose a different visa route when the refusal is not a typing mistake.
- Read the refusal reasonThe notice tells you whether this was a detail you can correct or a deeper issue.
- If it was an error, correct it and apply againFix the passport, name, date of birth, photo or email problem and submit a new application.
- If it was not an error, stop resubmittingA refusal on character or immigration history is not solved by sending the same application again.
- Use a different routeApply for a Standard Visitor Visa, where you can explain your circumstances and attach supporting evidence.
- Do not travel without permissionDo not fly until you hold an approved ETA or a valid visa.
What happens if I turn up without an approved ETA?
A traveler who turns up without an approved UK ETA is denied boarding by the airline, train or ferry operator, so the trip does not start.
Carriers must see an approved ETA before they let you board, and a processing confirmation does not count. That can mean a lost flight, lost accommodation and lost event tickets.
Travel insurance typically does not pay for a flight missed because of a visa or travel authorisation problem. The safest plan is a generous buffer and flexible bookings until your approval is in hand.
When should I get help, and what can PassportsAndVisas.com do?
Get help when your departure date is close, your application is complicated, or your passport is part of the problem. PassportsAndVisas.com assists with U.S. passports and travel visas globally and has done so since 1992.
A registered passport expediter since 1992, we are a private company, not the U.S. government. We have served 500K+ travelers.
| Passport option | Our service fee | Our speed |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | ||
| Priority | ||
| Rush | ||
| Emergency |
The table shows our passport renewal speeds; government fees are added to our service fee. If your passport is lost, damaged or expiring, see our passport renewal service or our lost passport service. For other visa questions, use our visa checker.
Passport problem standing between you and your trip?
Renew your passport now →How do I prevent a UK ETA problem next time?
A UK ETA problem is prevented by applying early, matching every detail to your passport, and using only the real application route.
- Apply well ahead of your trip, not in the last days, so a delay does not cost you flights.
- Copy your passport number, name and date of birth exactly from your passport page.
- Use an email address you check daily, and look in spam.
- Use a clear, recent, well-lit photo of your face.
- Check that your passport is valid and in good condition before you apply.
- Be careful with look-alike sites that add large charges to a simple application.
Past refusals and the reasons behind them are worth keeping in mind before you apply again. For a similar rejection story on another country, read our guide on why Indian eVisas get rejected, and see our passport photo guide.