UK ETA Eligible Countries
The United Kingdom attracts a lot of travellers every year with various opportunities. Historical sites such as the palaces, castles and Stonehenge convey the deep history of the country. The United Kingdom is abundant, with beautiful islands which makes it a perfect destination for enjoying a beach vacation. The infrastructure, growing economy and business opportunities increase the count of business travellers visiting the country. The world-class education system of the United Kingdom also opens up many opportunities for international students.
International travellers require a travel permit or visa to enter a country. In that regard, travellers need a UK visa or entry permit to enter and explore the United Kingdom. The UK government has introduced UK ETA to provide a seamless and simple entry process. Travellers can obtain a UK ETA instead of a UK visa for their UK trip. The eligibility of the travellers is an important factor to take into account when opting for UK ETA because the requirement applies only to the citizens of a few countries.
What is the UK ETA?
It is an entry or travel permit to the UK. It permits eligible travellers to stay in the country without the need for a traditional UK visa. UK ETA is an entry or travel permit, and it is not a UK visa category. There is no need to stay in the queues, visit the embassy or wait for months to get a visa because travellers can get a UK ETA by filling out an online UK ETA application form. The UK ETA application process is easy to follow and offers a quicker application processing time than the traditional UK visa.
The UK ETA requirements are necessary only for the nationals of specific countries who are planning to visit the United Kingdom for the following travel reasons.
- Visiting a family member or friend or leisure
- Short-term academic courses
- Creative Worker Visa Concession
- Transit reasons
- Business activities or engagements
- Allowed and paid events
Advantage of UK ETA
UK ETA has an array of advantages that benefits travellers and provides ease of travel. Applying online is a major advantage. The electronic travel permit reduces documentation work and makes the application process easy. When compared with traditional UK visas the UK ETA is more cost-effective. The nominal fee structure made the UK ETA option accessible for a lot of travellers. Another important advantage is the validity and the entry options. UK ETA offers multiple visits for a validity period of two years. Travellers can plan a stay for six months per entry and it is important to return to their residence or leave the UK within the six months.
Pre-screening is part of the UK entry process which helps enhance security measures and assess the traveller's details to approve or deny their entry into the United Kingdom. One of the best advantages of UK ETA is its processing time. The traveller’s application will be processed within 72 hours (around 3 business days). Regardless of age, all eligible travellers can apply for UK ETA.
Who can Apply for UK ETA?
The information and the eligibility criteria of UK ETA might change or modify. Travellers must check the updated information near their planned travel date. Please note to check the United Kingdom entry requirements because every traveller entering the UK must follow the security protocol and immigration check. Having an approved UK ETA does not exempt travellers from skipping the entry requirements.
What is the Authorized Duration of Stay and Validity of UK ETA?
Travellers opting for UK ETA are authorized to stay in the UK for 180 days (six months). The six-month duration of stay is permitted for travellers on each visit to the UK (six months per entry). Travellers can stay only for 3 months (90 days) if they are entering the UK for Creative Worker Visa Concession reasons. Also, it mandates travellers to have temporary valid work in the UK. Booking the return tickets within six months is crucial because overstaying can lead to paying fines and facing legal consequences.
Travellers can utilize their UK ETA until its validity which is two years. Please note that the UK ETA will be linked to the traveller’s passport after the approval, so the validity is two years or the expiry of the passport (if the passport expiration occurs before the two years validity). UK ETA only allows short stays in the UK, so extending or renewing the UK ETA is not an option.
Are all the Eligible Citizens Mandated to Get a UK ETA for their Travel to the UK?
Even though UK ETA is a mandatory requirement, it does not imply that every UK ETA eligible traveller must acquire a UK ETA for their trip. Travellers who are exempted from getting a UK ETA are included in the following list.
- Irish or British passport holders and citizens (dual citizenship)
- Travellers who hold a valid travel permit or a UK visa (to work, study or reside in the United Kingdom)
- Travellers having a British Overseas Territories Citizen (BOTC) passport
- Travellers who live in Ireland and travelling to the UK from Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man or Ireland
Documents Required for UK ETA
Travellers only require a few documents to apply for UK ETA. A valid passport is necessary. Only the original passport will be accepted. Travellers should not submit passport photocopies or digital passports. The passport should have blank pages. Travellers must upload a digital photo, so have them ready. The traveller’s digital colour photo must meet the UK ETA requirements such as light-coloured and plain background, recently taken (three to six months old), the file size can be 50 KB or 10 MB, neutral facial expressions, etc. Ignoring the UK ETA photo requirements can lead to application rejection or denial.
The other requirements are an email ID to receive updates and an approved UK ETA. A working debit or credit card with sufficient funds for paying the UK ETA fee. Travellers can also pay their application fee using valid online payment methods. Do not forget to check the additional document.
Quick Processing Time
The UK ETA offers a fast-processing time, which is only three days (around 72 hours). At times, travellers might face delays in the application process during vacation time and peak seasons. Other common reasons for the delay include last-minute submission, incomplete application forms, discrepancies found in the submitted documents, additional security checks, etc. One of the best ways to handle the application process delays without worrying is to apply early. Travellers must have their UK ETA approved before their planned arrival date in the UK, so submit the UK ETA application five or six days prior.
Steps to Apply for UK ETA
The UK ETA online application process is effortless and easy to follow.
- Get a UK ETA application form online by visiting the portal
- Enter accurate and correct details in each entry field (do not miss any of the entry fields)
- Upload all the necessary documents (before uploading, make sure they are valid and clear)
- Answer the employment and security-related questions truthfully
- Pay the UK ETA fee via debit or credit card (also check the online payment methods)
Travellers will get a confirmation message after submitting their UK ETA application and paying the fee. Wait for the decision, which takes approximately three days and sometimes longer. After approval travellers will receive an email confirmation regarding their approved UK ETA. In case of using UK ETA for multiple visits travellers must check its validity before each entry to be sure they are travelling with a valid UK ETA.
Group Travel Requirements
Travellers cannot submit a group application for UK ETA. Each individual in the group, whether travelling with family or friends, is mandated to have their own UK ETA for entering the United Kingdom. They can submit a separate application form and note that each person's processing time might differ. Travellers are allowed to submit a UK ETA application for their friends, family members, or children. Before applying, they have to check the applicant’s eligibility and documents and ensure they (the person who is applying) provide the correct details.
Being an early applicant and submitting the application form at least five or seven days early is advisable for group travellers. It ensures that each member of the group gets their UK ETA application approved before starting the UK trip.
UK ETA for Children
The UK ETA requirements apply to everyone, including infants and children travelling from UK ETA eligible countries. Legal guardians or parents travelling with their kids to the United Kingdom must submit a separate UK ETA application form for their kids. The UK ETA requirements, application process and fee are the same for all applicants regardless of their age.
UK ETA Restricted Activities
Travellers are restricted from engaging in the below-listed activities if they are travelling to the United Kingdom under UK ETA.
- Long-term academic courses are not allowed
- The duration of stay longer than 6 months
- Engaging in paid and unpaid work in UK companies
- Living in the UK via multiple entries
- Claiming benefits and public funds
- Marrying in the UK
UK ETA Application Rejection
UK ETA rejections are possible, and the common reasons are providing incorrect information and invalid documents, previous violations of the immigration law, etc. Even after the UK ETA application denial travellers can enter and stay in the United Kingdom by obtaining a valid UK visa. Do not skip reading the UK ETA rejection letter because it is important to address the rejection issue.
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The frequently asked question about UK ETA helps travellers to understand the travel requirements and the important details of UK ETA. Learn more at Online UK eTA - Frequently Asked Questions.