The UK ETA is a digital permission that pre-screens eligible travelers before they fly. It links to your passport and allows tourism, business, study, or transit, for up to 180 days per visit. Although not a visa, it is required for visa-exempt nationals.
At iVisa, we guide you through UK ETA eligibility checks, confirm if your travel purpose aligns with official UK government rules, and review your application, so you won’t be surprised at the border.
This article is written with official UK government guidelines in mind.
Am I eligible to get a UK ETA?
Eligibility depends on nationality, travel purpose, and travel history. Applicants must hold a biometric passport (with the chip symbol) and submit accurate personal details and a digital photo.
iVisa provides real-time eligibility checks by nationality, purpose, and travel route. Check your eligibility in just a few seconds:
What are the UK ETA eligibility requirements?
Besides nationality, you’ll need to meet a couple of requirements to get a UK ETA. Here’s a simple overview:
| Requirement |
Needed for ETA? |
How iVisa helps |
| Biometric passport |
Yes |
Assistance without NFC passport scanning |
| Digital photo |
Yes |
Assists with taking approved photo and edits for exposure, format, and size |
| Clear travel purpose |
Yes |
Checks if purpose aligns with UK rules |
| Clean immigration history |
Recommended |
iVisa review risks before submitting |
| Funds & accommodation |
Sometimes requested |
Provides a document checklist |
Who isn’t eligible for a UK ETA (and must apply for a visa instead)?
If you don’t meet the above requirements, you must apply for a visa instead. In general, those who don’t need a UK ETA are:
-
Visa nationals: If your nationality requires a visa for short visits, you'll need a Standard Visitor visa, not an ETA.
-
Longer stays: If you’re visiting for longer than 6 months, you'll need a different visa.
-
Travel purpose: If you’re traveling to the United Kingdom for anything other than short tourism, transit, business, or study stays, you’ll need a different visa.
iVisa helps you determine the right path forward, based on your nationality, activities, and more.
What activities are allowed with a UK ETA?
The UK ETA permits:
- Tourism
- Visiting family
- Attending cultural events
- Short leisure courses (as long as they do not constitute work)
iVisa can confirm whether your trip purpose falls within standard visitor rules and ensures your application reflects it clearly. This prevents misunderstandings and potential denial at check-in or border control.
Which business activities are allowed on a UK ETA?
Some travelers get confused about visiting for work or business, as it may sound like you’re working in the United Kingdom, which is strictly forbidden.
The UK ETA allows short stays for:
- Attending meetings or business negotiations
- Visiting trade shows and conferences
- Short internal training sessions
These activities must not be equivalent to working for a UK employer.
To avoid confusion, iVisa reviews your itinerary and helps check your purpose so it aligns with visitor rules. We clarify what is accepted and when a different visa is required.
Can you study in the UK with an ETA?
Yes, short studies for up to six months at accredited institutions is permitted. This includes English courses and short academic modules.
iVisa helps ensure your course confirmation aligns with visitor rules. We also advise what documents to bring for smooth entry.
Can you transit through the UK using an ETA?
Many nationalities require an ETA even for airside transit. This depends on nationality and route.
iVisa explains connection rules, airside vs. landside transit, and when a transit visa may be more appropriate. We help verify passport data and onward tickets to prevent boarding issues during tight connections.
What is not allowed with a UK ETA?
Anything that falls outside the above activities are not permitted:
-
You cannot work, be paid by a UK entity, run a UK-based business, or provide goods or services. Even short-term paid engagements fall outside ETA permissions.
-
Longer studies, switching to other visa routes inside the UK, or long-term residence are not permitted.
-
Marriage or civil partnership requires a Marriage Visitor Visa, and is not allowed on a UK ETA. Joining family to live permanently requires a family route visa.
-
UK ETA holders cannot use public funds or access free NHS healthcare. Medical treatment must be paid privately.
iVisa strongly recommends having comprehensive travel insurance before you go, and helps travelers understand proof-of-funds expectations at the border.
How long can you stay in the UK with an ETA?
Most travelers can stay up to six months per entry. The ETA is usually valid for two years or until your passport expires.
iVisa recommends checking your passport validity before applying, since an expiring passport shortens ETA usefulness. We also guide travelers on the documentation - like return tickets and funds - that may support the stay requested at the border.
What happens if I overstay or want to visit the United Kingdom often?
Overstaying is a serious offense, and can invalidate future UK ETA and visa eligibility and lead to travel bans. This can also have an impact on getting visas for other countries as the UK government may share this info.
Making multiple long visits (even within the validity of your ETA) with brief intervals outside the UK can appear as though you’re attempting to live in the country, prompting additional scrutiny. Remember, the only allowed activities are short tourism, business, transit, or study purposes.
With iVisa, travelers receive clear guidance on what they can and can’t do with an ETA, and support that demonstrates strong ties to their home country.
FAQs About UK ETA eligibility and activities
What is a UK ETA and how does it differ from a visa?
A UK ETA is a digital travel authorisation for visa-exempt travelers. You either need a UK ETA or a visa, depending on your nationality and other eligibility criteria.
iVisa helps determine whether you need an ETA or a visa and ensures your purpose matches visitor rules.
Can I work remotely for my non-UK employer while visiting on an ETA?
Light, incidental remote work for an employer based outside the UK is generally acceptable, as long as your main reason for travel fits visitor rules and you aren’t providing services to a UK company.
iVisa helps you describe your trip accurately and flags when your planned activities start to look like UK-based work that may need a different visa route.
Can I volunteer or do unpaid work in the UK with an ETA?
Most formal volunteering or unpaid roles that replace a job are not allowed under an ETA, even if no salary is paid.
Border officers look at what you actually do, not just whether you’re paid. iVisa reviews your plans and advises whether they fit within visitor rules or whether you should explore a different visa to stay compliant.
What are the key benefits of using iVisa instead of the government website for the UK ETA?
With iVisa, you get clean data submission, guidance on allowed activities, and secure handling of your application. We streamline group trips, send important reminders, and reduce the risk of errors that could disrupt travel.
Our support helps you stay compliant and confident throughout the process.
Can I study online while I’m in the UK on an ETA?
If your main purpose for entering the UK is tourism, business, or short in-person study, quietly continuing an existing online course from overseas is usually fine.
However, enrolling in longer in-person programs while on an ETA is not. iVisa helps you distinguish between casual online learning and study that needs a dedicated student visa, so you avoid issues at the border.
Can I extend my stay in the UK if I already have an ETA?
You normally can’t extend your visitor permission from inside the UK just because you have an ETA. The ETA is for short, temporary visits, and you must leave before your allowed stay ends.
iVisa helps you plan realistic dates, understand maximum stay lengths, and decide whether a different visa is more suitable if you want to stay longer in the future.
Can I use my UK ETA to visit Ireland or other nearby countries?
The UK ETA only covers entry to the United Kingdom, not Ireland or other European countries. Each country has its own entry rules and permissions.
iVisa checks your full itinerary and advises which additional visas or authorisations you may need so you don’t get stuck when crossing borders during your trip.[collapse-end
[collapse-start]What can I expect from airline checks and on arrival?
Airlines must confirm your UK ETA validity before boarding. It’s also important to ensure your booking name matches your passport exactly.
On arrival in the United Kingdom, immigration officers will check your UK ETA validity again and may ask some questions about your travel purpose, where you’re arriving from, and how long you’ll be staying.
If you’re unsure about your UK ETA validity, iVisa is happy to assist with checking you UK ETA status, or you can check it yourself on the GOV.UK website with your passport details (the same passport you used for the application).
How long is the UK ETA valid?
The UK ETA allows for stays up to six months. The ETA itself is valid for two years or until passport expiry, during which you can enter the country multiple times.
iVisa helps you prepare your application correctly, and offers a simplified process without passport NFC scanning and clear photo guides.
Can I work in the UK with an ETA?
No. Tourism, business, family visits, transit, and short studies are permitted. Working for a UK employer or being paid in the United Kingdom is strictly forbidden.
iVisa checks your eligibility for an ETA during the application process and clarifies next steps if you need another document.
What are the eligibility criteria to apply for a UK ETA?
Eligibility depends on several aspects, such as nationality, visa-exempt status, and possession of a biometric passport.
iVisa confirms eligibility instantly and checks for risks such as immigration history or data inconsistencies.
In some cases, for example if you have a criminal record, we’d recommend applying for a UK Standard Visitor Visa instead, which allows for more documentation to explain your situation.
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