Frequent asked questions United Kingdom visa

You can only apply for a UK ETA online. There are no alternative paper-based methods. Applicants do not have to appear in person at a visa office.

Yes. You can apply for a UK ETA even if your travel plans are not yet confirmed. However, you must ensure that the passport you are using for the ETA application is still valid for the duration of the trip to the UK for the ETA to remain valid.

Processing an ETA application in the UK usually takes three days to process. Some applications may take more than three days for a decision.

The (UK ETA) is a new digital travel authorization system that allows the U.K. government to exercise greater control and oversight over individuals entering the country, making it easier to identify potential security risks. The ETA is part of a broader government initiative to digitize borders to replace the U.K.'s visa waiver system.

The ETA is not a type of visa. It is an electronic document for foreigners who do not need a visa to enter the United Kingdom for short stays, such as tourism, family and friends visits, business trips and short studies. Citizens who are visa exempt and in transit in the U.K. must also obtain an ETA regardless of whether they pass through U.K. border control.

Vanaf 5 maart 2025 kunnen Europeanen een ETA aanvragen voor reizen naar het Verenigd Koninkrijk op en na 2 april 2025. Het Britse ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken maakte de aankondiging op 10 september 2024 om ervoor te zorgen dat er voldoende tijd zou zijn om reizigers die een ETA nodig hebben, hiervan op de hoogte te stellen.

The UK ETA is for travelers who do not need a visa for a short stay, or less than six months, for purposes such as tourism, visiting family and friends, business, study or transit.

Yes. All travelers who do not need a visa to visit the United Kingdom must have a separate and approved ETA to enter the country, regardless of age.

No. An ETA is valid for two years from the date of issue or until the passport it is linked to expires, whichever comes first. Travelers must apply for a new ETA if their passport expires within two years.

During the two-year validity period of your ETA, you can enter the United Kingdom multiple times, as long as you visit the country for less than six months at a time.

Yes. Visa-free nationals with an ETA can participate in short-term study programs for 180 days or six months. For longer study programs, you must apply for a student visa.

An approved ETA for the UK is valid for two years from the date of issue or until the date the passport expires, whichever comes first. If the passport your ETA is linked to expires within two years, you must reapply for an ETA.