UK ETA explained: app or online application, what to have ready and how long the decision usually takes

Most visitors to the UK need either an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) or a visa, depending on nationality and reason for travel, according to GOV.UK. An ETA lets the holder travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man for up to six months, and each person travelling needs one, including babies and children. People with a British or Irish passport do not need an ETA.

Applications can be made through the UK ETA app, or online for those who cannot download the app. Applicants need the passport they will travel with, an email address and a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. In the app, the phone camera is used to scan the passport and face; online applicants must upload photos that follow the rules for digital photos of faces, or the application may be delayed or rejected.

A decision usually arrives by email within a day, but it can take up to three working days. GOV.UK says travellers must wait for the confirmation email before travelling. The ETA lasts for two years or until the passport expires, whichever is sooner, and is linked to the passport used to apply.

Transit passengers are also affected, because an ETA is needed by anyone passing through border control at a UK airport. GOV.UK stresses that an ETA does not guarantee entry.

Travellers unsure whether a connection involves UK border control should check with their airline and on GOV.UK before flying.