What you need to apply for a UK ETA

The checklist

Gather these before you start. With everything to hand, the form itself is short.

• Your passport: the one you'll travel on, in date for the whole of your stay
• A photo of your face: taken in the UK ETA app, or a digital photo to upload online
• A photo of your passport: if you use the app, it can also read the passport's chip
• An email address: one you check, because the decision is sent there
• A way to pay £20: a debit or credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
• Your personal details: including your home address and contact details
• Time to read the questions: about criminal convictions and immigration history

Applying for someone else, such as a child or an older relative? You'll need their passport and a photo of them, not yours.

Which passport to use

Use the passport you'll actually travel on. The ETA is linked electronically to that passport, and the airline or ferry company checks that exact document when you board.

Dual nationals should apply with the passport they plan to travel on (as long as that nationality is eligible), then use the same passport for the trip. If your passport is due for renewal, think about renewing first. A new passport needs a new ETA, and an ETA ends when its passport expires.

A national identity card isn't enough. You need a passport to apply, and most EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can no longer use ID cards to enter the UK.

Photos that work first time

The app guides you through the face photo, but the same problems come up again and again:

• shadows across the face or on the wall behind
• glare on glasses (take them off if you can)
• a busy background instead of a plain, light one
• a hat, sunglasses or hair covering part of the face
• filters, beauty modes or heavy cropping
• a selfie held too close, which distorts the face

Face a window or another source of even light, keep a neutral expression and look straight at the camera. It's easier if someone else takes the photo.

For the passport's photo page, lay the passport flat in good light, with all four corners in view and no fingers over the details.

The questions you'll be asked

As well as your personal and passport details, the application asks suitability questions about criminal convictions and your immigration history. Read each one in full and answer what it actually asks. A wrong answer can lead to a refusal, and giving false information can count against you in future UK applications.

If you're not sure whether something in your past needs to be declared, get advice from a regulated immigration adviser before you apply. Guessing is the worst option.

Common mistakes that slow applications down

1. Typos in the passport number. Swapping the letter O for a zero, or I for 1, is the classic error. If the number doesn't match, the check at boarding may not find your ETA.
2. A name that doesn't match the passport. Enter your name exactly as printed in the passport, not a shortened version or a married name that isn't on it yet.
3. A mistyped email address. The application can go through while the decision lands in someone else's inbox, or nobody's.
4. An old or nearly expired passport. The ETA ends with the passport, so you'd end up paying twice.
5. Rushed answers to the suitability questions. Ticking "no" without reading the question properly is one of the most avoidable routes to a refusal.
6. Leaving it late. Most decisions come quickly, but GOV.UK advises allowing three working days, and some applications take longer.

Where to apply

You can apply yourself in the UK ETA app or at GOV.UK for £20. If you'd like a second pair of eyes on all of the above, our specialists can check and submit your application, and nothing is sent until you've approved it.