UK ETA for London Marathon runners: iVisa's guide to avoiding visa mistakes

If you’re preparing for the London Marathon, checking your UK entry requirements should be one of the first things you do, not the last.

Many international runners secure a place, book flights, and plan their trip, only to realize later that they may need a UK ETA or visa before they can travel.

The rules are simple, but easy to overlook:

• Travelers from eligible countries need a UK ETA before boarding
• Others need a UK visitor visa
• Every traveler must apply individually, including children

The London Marathon is one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors and one of the most competitive races in the world, usually boasting over 50,000 runners and millions of global supporters.

But while the race itself hasn’t changed, the travel requirements have. The introduction of the UK ETA has added a new step that many international runners don’t realize applies to them until late in the planning process.

Getting to the start line takes months of training, planning, and financial commitment. A documentation mistake at the final stage can undo all of that.

Why more London Marathon runners are double-checking UK travel requirements

With the scale of the London Marathon growing rapidly year on year, ensuring you have the right entry documents ready to go is vital.

Over 56,000 runners completed the 2025 event, raising £87.3 million for charity, making it the largest annual one-day fundraising event in the world. That number grew in 2026, when more than 1.1 million people entered the ballot, despite only a small percentage securing a place.

According to The Guardian’s report on future race expansion, organizers are even exploring a two-day format that could accommodate up to 100,000 runners in 2027.

At the same time, the United Kingdom has updated its entry requirements by introducing the ETA for travelers who previously entered without pre-approval. This adds an extra step to the travel process, particularly for those accustomed to visa-free access.

While most ETA applications are processed quickly, the UK government advises travelers to allow up to three working days, and longer in some cases if additional checks are required. For an event like the London Marathon, where travel is tied to a fixed date, even a small delay or application error can have a much bigger impact.

That combination, more international participants and evolving rules, has made travel planning more sensitive to timing and accuracy.

UK ETA or visa for the London Marathon: Which one do you need?

Check which document you need to visit the United Kingdom for the London Marathon below.

What is a UK ETA, and who needs one?

The UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is a relatively new requirement introduced in 2024 and expanded to cover more nationalities through 2025 and 2026.

It is a pre-travel authorization linked to your passport (not a visa), and for many visa-exempt travelers, it is now required before boarding a flight to the UK.

This is where even experienced travelers may get caught out, as many runners have visited the UK before without applying in advance, and their previous visa-free experience creates a false assumption that nothing has changed. In reality, if you are from an eligible country, you may now need an approved ETA before traveling, even for a short trip like the London Marathon.

The UK ETA typically allows:

• multiple entries up to 2 years, or until your passport expires
• stays of up to 6 months per visit
• travel for tourism, including events like the London Marathon

From April 2026, the ETA fee increased from £16 to £20, as outlined in our update on UK ETA and visa fee changes, adding another reason to plan ahead and avoid repeat applications due to errors.

At the same time, not all travelers qualify for an ETA. Some still need a UK Standard Visitor Visa, so it's essential to check your eligibility early.

UK ETA requirements for London Marathon travel

If you are eligible for a UK ETA, the application itself is relatively simple. Most issues do not come from complexity, but from small mistakes.

You will typically need:

• A valid passport linked to your application
• A recent passport-style photo
• Basic personal details

What matters is accuracy.

Because the ETA is linked to your passport, even minor inconsistencies, such as a typo in your name or using a different passport when traveling, can lead to issues at check-in.

For marathon travel, where everything is tied to fixed dates, these small mistakes can have outsized consequences.

The 5 UK ETA mistakes that can cost you the race

The London Marathon is not flexible. You cannot reschedule it if something goes wrong with your travel. That is why these mistakes matter more than they would for a standard holiday.

1. Assuming visa-free still means no pre-travel requirement

This is the most common issue.

Many travelers assume that because they previously entered the UK without a visa, they can do so again. With the rollout of the ETA, that is no longer always true.

2. Leaving your application too late

Marathon travel comes with fixed dates.

Flights, accommodation, and race logistics are all tied to a specific weekend. Leaving your ETA or visa application until the last minute reduces your ability to fix issues if something goes wrong.

As Victor Gimenez, Head of Customer Experience at iVisa, puts it:

“The biggest risk isn’t rejection, it’s applying too late. For fixed events like the London Marathon, timing mistakes leave very little room to fix errors.”

Travelers often secure flights and accommodation first, then realize too late that they need a different document or have made a small error. At that stage, options are limited.

3. Applying with incorrect passport details

The UK ETA is linked directly to your passport.

Common issues include:

• incorrect passport numbers
• mismatched names
• using a different passport when traveling

These are small errors, but they can cause major disruption at check-in.

4. Not checking if you need a visa instead of an ETA

Not everyone qualifies for the UK ETA.

Some travelers need a full visitor visa, and discovering this too late can affect your ability to travel in time for the marathon.

5. Overlooking requirements for supporters and companions

The London Marathon is a shared experience. Many runners travel with partners, friends, or family members. Each traveler must meet UK entry requirements individually, including children.

Apply with confidence: Let us help you avoid mistakes

There are two ways to apply for your UK ETA or visa:

1. Direct applications: Some travelers choose to apply directly through official government channels, particularly if their situation is straightforward.
2. Third-party applications: Others opt for services like ours at iVisa for additional guidance, especially when timelines are tight, or they are applying for multiple people.

With iVisa, the focus is on reducing errors and making the process easier to manage. Travelers can complete their application step by step, upload documents in one place, and review everything before submission.

This is particularly useful for group travel, where multiple applications need to be completed correctly and consistently.

We do not issue visas or ETAs, nor do we influence approval decisions. Those are always made by the UK authorities.

Need more information?

If you still have questions about the UK ETA process or your eligibility, our support team can help clarify next steps via live chat or WhatsApp.