"IVisa provides such quick turn around in completion of necessary travel documents - even when you make a mistake - that I was actually able to complete a critical document in only a few hours! I was happily shocked!"
UK ETA: Apply now
What you need to know
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The UK ETA lets you travel to the UK multiple times for tourism, business, short study courses, or visiting friends and family.
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It’s valid for 2 years, and you can stay up to 6 months on each visit.
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The ETA is a new entry document, similar to the US ESTA, and it’s for travelers from countries that don’t need a visa to enter the UK.
Apply for your UK ETA online today with us
Last updated: May 2025
The UK ETA is now required for all visa-free visitors traveling to the United Kingdom, who don't hold a British or Irish passport.
What is the UK ETA?
The UK ETA is an electronic travel authorization (ETA) that allows you to travel to the United Kingdom.
You can compare the UK ETA to similar international schemes like the United States ESTA.
What can you do with the UK ETA?
With this electronic document, you're good to go for trips to England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland for tourism, business, short-term studies, or visiting friends and family.
You won’t need an ETA if you’re only transiting through the UK and won’t go through border control (‘airside’ transit).
Just keep in mind, the ETA doesn’t replace the UK Visitor Visa. It’s only for travelers who don’t need a visa to enter the UK.
What can you not do with the UK ETA?
You can’t use the UK ETA to live, work, or study long-term in the country (unless stated otherwise).
Important: If you have dual nationality or multiple passports, you’ll need to enter the UK using the same passport you used to apply for the ETA.
Who must apply for the UK ETA?
All non-visa required travelers, including EU citizens, need to get an ETA before traveling to the UK.
Who doesn’t need to apply for the UK ETA?
No need to apply for an ETA if you already have (or need) a UK visa, are a British or Irish citizen, or have official permission to live, study, or work in the UK.
Traveling to the UK with children and minors
Every traveler in the family, including children and babies, needs their own ETA. Parents or guardians can easily apply on their behalf.
Just click ‘add another person’ when applying online to apply as a group.
If a minor is traveling alone or with someone who isn’t their legal guardian, you might need to show extra documents like parental consent at the border.
How long is the UK ETA valid?
Once you've got your ETA, you’re good to go for multiple trips within 2 years. It also covers travel across the Ireland-Northern Ireland border under the Common Travel Area agreement.
Each visit can last up to 6 months.
UK ETA: Required documents
Here’s what you’ll need to apply with us:
- A copy of your valid passport – it should be valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date in the UK
- A recent passport photo
The ETA is linked to your passport electronically, but we recommend keeping a digital and printed copy of the confirmation just in case.
UK ETA costs and processing times
When applying through us, you can choose from three different processing times:
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Standard: For those who have booked their trip further in advance and aren't in a rush.
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Rush: For those who require their ETA quicker than the standard option.
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Super Rush: If you require your ETA urgently, select this option for an additional fee.
Why apply with iVisa?
At iVisa, we've been simplifying visa processes for more than 10 years. We're here to make the UK ETA application hassle-free and boost your chances of acceptance.
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Fast & easy: Apply for your UK ETA faster than the government process, with fewer steps, no face scanning, and no security codes required.
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Skip the line: You can apply for your UK ETA in minutes without lengthy government forms.
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Save your session: Start, pause, and resume your application without losing any progress.
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Language flexibility: Apply in your preferred language so you can complete your application easily.
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Apply for everyone at once: Easily add multiple travelers in one process, no need to completely start all over for each person individually.
Can I contact you about the UK ETA?
More questions about the UK ETA? Reach out to our customer support team via live chat or WhatsApp. We're here to help.
Ask iVisa
Have a visa question? We'll provide the answer.
Hello Liz,
You’re correct, ETAs are linked to your passport, so if you’ve renewed your passport, your existing ETA is no longer valid. You’ll need to apply for a new ETA using your new passport details before traveling. If you are ready to apply for yours, visit our platform to get it done quickly and easily here.
Hi Kirk,
While we’re not able to resend documents directly through this channel, you should be able to retrieve your UK ETA confirmation from the email used during your application (try searching for “UK ETA” or your order number 1475194). If you’re unable to locate it, please reach out to our support team with your order number and passport details, and they’ll be happy assist you. As it it digitally linked to your passport, if you need to travel, you are able to do so without having a physical copy if the ETA is still valid, which is should be if you applied last fall.
Hi Ramona,
You both can visit the UK visa-free, but you are required to complete a UK ETA. A UK ETA isn't a visa, but rather a travel authorization that is mandatory for all travelers headed to the UK. You can get yours quickly and easily on our platform here.
Hi Clinton,
As a Zimbabwean passport holder, you will need a UK visa to visit the United Kingdom, even if you hold permanent residence in Portugal
The UK is not part of the Schengen Area, so your Portuguese residence permit does not give you visa-free access to the UK s you will need to apply for a UK Standard Visitor Visa before traveling.
The standard requirements are the following:
• Valid Zimbabwean passport
• UK Standard Visitor visa application
• Visa fee payment
• Proof of residence in Portugal
• Travel itinerary and accommodation details
• Proof of sufficient funds
There is no visa on arrival for Zimbabwean citizens. The visa must be approved before you travel. Processing usually takes around 3 weeks, but it is best to apply early. If you're ready to get started with your application, you can do so here on our platform safely and securely today.
Hi Paul,
As a Maltese citizen, you do not need a visa for short visits to the UK for tourism or visiting family (up to 6 months. The UK ETA gives you permission to travel to the UK and is electronically linked to your passport, but it does not automatically guarantee entry.
Before you travel, make sure:
• Your passport is valid for the duration of your stay
• You can show proof of return travel and accommodation if asked
Hi Alicja,
In most cases, no, a temporary or emergency passport is usually not accepted for a standard tourist visa or for entry.
Most countries require a regular, full-validity passport to issue a visa and to allow entry. Temporary passports are often accepted only for return travel to your home country, not for tourism.
Some countries may accept an emergency passport only in very limited situations, and even then visa issuance is discretionary and often restricted.
You should:
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Check the official embassy or visa center website of the country you want to visit
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Confirm whether temporary passports are accepted for visas and entry
We recommend, if possible, waiting for a full-validity passport before applying for the visa or traveling.
Hi Jess,
If the official UK government ETA site isn’t working, you can apply through a trusted third-party service, like iVisa, that offers a more stable, user-friendly application flow, clear guidance to avoid mistakes that can cause delays or rejections and human support if you run into issues while applying.
Your ETA is still issued by the UK authorities, but iVisa simply helps you complete and submit it correctly. You can check out the application requirements here to get your UK ETA application in today, quickly and easily.
Hello Torben,
You can view your ETA details by checking the confirmation email you received after applying, this includes your ETA number, status, and validity. If you no longer have that email, you can still retrieve your ETA on the official ETA portal here.
Hi Resty,
If you are traveling on a US passport, you do not need a UK transit visa when connecting through Heathrow, provided you remain in the designated international transit area of the airport and do not pass through UK border control.
As long as you stay airside and are simply changing flights, you’ll be able to make your connection in London and continue on to Italy without any additional UK visa requirements.
Hi Arezo,
At the moment, travelers with an Afghan passport are not eligible for the UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Instead, you will need to apply for a standard UK visa that matches the purpose of your trip, such as a visitor visa for tourism or family visits, or another visa type depending on your situation. We can guide you through the process on our platform here, including the required documents and steps to submit your application.
Hello Fiona,
Since you hold an Irish passport, you do not need an ETA or visa to enter Ireland, However, if you travel with your Irish passport, you will just need to make sure your travel documentation , like airline tickets, match the passport that you will be using. If you prefer to travel on your Australian passport, you would not need an ETA either, because Australian citizens can visit Ireland without a visa for short stays.
Hi Debra,
Your daughter-in-law, as a Turkish citizen, will need to apply for a United Kingdom Standard Visitor visa in order to travel with your son to Scotland for a short stay. This visa is for tourists like your daughter-in-law and it typically allows a stay of up to 6 months.
She can apply today here on our platform hassle-free with supporting documents such as her passport, proof of employment, financial means, and an invitation or supporting letter showing the family visit purpose. Since your son is a dual UK national, it will help to include details of his UK citizenship and family ties in the application to show the genuine purpose of the visit.
Hello Carlos,
We offer many visas to other countries if you're looking for requirements and support for different countries, but specifically for the United Kingdom, as a Spanish passport holder, you will need to apply for a UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before traveling to the UK, even if you're returning for a short visit.
This applies to most EU nationals as of 2025. The ETA is valid for multiple entries over two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your stay, and national ID cards are no longer accepted for entry,you must travel with your Spanish passport. If you're ready to get started on your application, you can do so on our platform quickly and hassle-free.
Hi Rebecca,
The UK ETA is linked electronically to your passport, so there’s no need to download a physical visa. That said, you should have received a confirmation email with your approval details. If you can’t find it, be sure to check your spam or junk folder.
If you applied through iVisa, send us an email, and we will follow up as soon as possible.
Hi Tina,
If you previously applied for a UK ETA, there’s no physical document to retrieve as it's electronically linked to the passport you used during the application. However, you should have received a confirmation email at the time of approval, which includes your ETA details. Please check your inbox (including spam or junk folders) for that email.
If you applied through iVisa and can’t locate the confirmation, feel free to reach out to our support team
United Kingdom ETA Certified customer reviews
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Cheryl Hamilton
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Hazel Jackman
"Keep up the good work"
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Suraish Singh
"Luis is a super guy who will guide you through the process with ease. I could not get my laptop camers to take my picture and Luis chose another option via Whatsapp and walked me through the whole process without a problem."
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Robin Ingram
"Streamlined operation. Easy to fill out and quick turnaround on approval."
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Sharifah Masniah
"Great, simple & fast"
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Hector
"Very good"
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Fernando Toriani
"Excellent service."
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Melinda Yeaman
"iVisa made it simple to understand the process and they kept me informed the whole way through if they needed things like a clearer photograph of documents etc. I would thoroughly recommend using them."
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Bozana
"Very simple and short proces."
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krists krumpans
"It was fast."
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Nitsan
"Easy use and simple"
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G
"Super easy and super quick."
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Marie-Therese
"Very helpful and friendly"
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Anonymous
"Excellent service. Fast & efficient with easy to follow instructions."
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Susan
"The application process is a seamless transaction! Received my application results within a few hours!"
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Bert
"Service was clear"
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Joel
"Very efficient."
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Silvia
"Visa on line was fast and secure"
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Edson Kondo
"It is one of those very rare AI driven systems that ACTUALLY WORK. And worked very well!"
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Mauricio Guerrero
"Very helpful"
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Barbara
"The application process was easy to use and went very smoothly. The documents were delivered safely online with a very quick turnaround from submitting them."
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Martien
"Quick responds on my request"
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Eugene Call
"Very Profesional company!"
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Maria Grazia Lorusso
"Easy to follow instructions"
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Avirama Golan
"A very easy and friendly way to get your visa for the UK"
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Grace Berthiaume
"Great help."
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Xiaohui Hao
"The procedure is very clear!"
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PC
"Quick and easy to process."
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Darryl Carpenter
"Supe quick, super easy"
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kh
"all went well, easy and fast"
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"efficient and easy to use"
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Per
"Fast & reliable"
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Vincent Descamps
"Super easy !"
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"It was easy and fast work"
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"Easy to use"
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R. ZACCHARELLI
"Quick and very easy to understand. I recommend"
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James William Moser
"Prompt service. User friendly web site."
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Dan
"Easy process"
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Lorien
"Super easy process!!!"
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Dina Ibrahim Nahmias de Mendez
"Very friendly"
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Kai Uwe van de Viven
"Pretty easy Procedere."
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S. Best
"Good service"
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Sharon Durand
"You made it so easy!!"
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CM
"Quick, easy to fill and navigate"
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Giulia
"Great rapid service . Thank you"
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Laura
"Quick, easy and efficient"
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Chika.O
"You people are the best.fast and reliable .keep up the good work. I really appreciate. The time frame is wow and the customer service representative is at his or her peak .I will highly recommend this platform.Good luck"
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Rafael Vega Rodriguez
"I had to deliver an urgent training session for my work colleagues in UK. I realized that I needed a Visa 3 hours before the flight. Getting this done so quickly, is nothing but amazing. Big thanks!"
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Rohit Thawani
"We showed up to check into a flight at the airport and had no idea we needed visas and with an hour before takeoff we were able to get the visa within 25 minutes. Check our bags and board just in time. I can’t believe how quick this turnaround was."
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Raymond Smith
"Very good"
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Robert
"Easy to use and fast. Highly recommend!!"
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Eileen
"Quick and easy"
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Jill Vincent
"quick and prompt service."
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Chia-che Hsieh
"very easy to apply for and was approved within 1 hour."
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Alison
"Surprised at how quick and easy it was."
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Gundula
"Easy and quick"
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Wendee
"The site was easy to use and a quick turnaround."
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Konstantin
"Confirmation on my application came in 45 minutes. Bravo!"
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AT
"Very simple process, quick, & easy! Fully recommend"
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Soham Shannigrahi
"Very convenient"
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Mario
"Easy, friendly-user and swift process to apply for iVisa. I received approval just a few hours after my application."
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N.Paparodopoulos
"Easy and fast"
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Juan ricardo de Nieves lopez
"Very fast"
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Stephanie
"Fantastic service! The entire process was incredibly easy and straightforward—from start to finish, everything was clearly explained. I received my visa within 24 hours, much faster than expected. Highly recommend iVisa for their speed, efficiency, and user-friendly website."
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Keith Hungate
"Easy to follow and helpful when additional info needed"
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Mike M
"Very smooth and easy to use. The process was quick and approval was much faster than I expected."
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Christian
"Very easy to use"
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Carla Anisman
"It was great and convenient. Thank you"
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Catherine Johnston
"Had to use the chat option for help on the photos. Got good advice and form was completed"
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Sean
"The app was very easy to use and was transparent about the timeline and approval process."
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SSchoff
"iVisa led me step-by-step through the application process. It was very helpful."
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Kerri
"Very quick and easy process! Very quick return with approval."
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Jan Baertschiger
"The program was very easy to navigate. I would encourage anyone that needs a VISA for UK to use this program."
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Rosa Vivian Neal
"I received an excellent quick and efficient service, easy to filling application, the response was nearly immediately"
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No name
"Easy to follow even for someone with NO technological ability."
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Milagros Aguiar
"It was an easy task to follow. Very well explain. The page it self it is very clear. So good to have a feedback on every step of the process."
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Jumarin Bin Ismail
"I had a smooth and hassle-free experience using iVisa for my UK application. The platform was user-friendly, the instructions were clear, and the processing time was quicker than expected. I appreciated the prompt updates and professionalism throughout the process. I would definitely recommend iVisa to others applying for a UK visa. Thank you for the excellent service!"
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Felix F.
"Quick and easy all the way through"
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Aria V.
"The website was very user friendly, instructions were clear, and the support team was excellent when changes were needed."
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Lila N.
"The app worked flawlessly and was easy to use. I got my ETA within minutes wasn't sure it would be so smooth, but it really worked"
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Max P.
"Great service I received my visa very quickly."
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Penelope H.
"Easy to complete with very clear directions."
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Ivy K.
"The visa was easy to apply for just ensure the passport photo is good quality"
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Chase D.
"The process was quick and let me gather everyone’s information at my own pace"
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Miles B.
"The process was fast and simple."
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Eli T.
"Getting the ETA was super easy, and approval came within minutes"
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Eli T.
"Getting the ETA was super easy, and approval came within minutes."
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Clara S.
"the whole thing was quick and easy to finish"
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Piper L.
"staff were patient and very helpful throughout the process."
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Sadie R.
"Excellent and efficient service quick and pleasant."
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Hazel L.
"Very clear and understandable, even for someone not familiar with technology."
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Raylene
"Excellent service ."
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Michael Bye
"You got it done real quick!!!!"
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LUCA
"GOOD WORK"
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Marius
"Clear and fast. Not very cheap, but OK."
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Wahler
"Very quick"
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Sutterfield
"Thank you for always staying in contact"
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George Howe
"Price was a bit steep, but the UK ETA website was a bad, frustrating joke, for which the photo requirements were impossible to satisfy."
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Fran Farrell
"I think we were hesitant about just scanning the qr code, once we got onto it - we were able to continue the application. I don't like paying for things on my phone so needed my computer."
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Isak Eriksen
"Quick and intuitive procedure."
How to Apply: ETA
Complete our easy online application and pay with credit card or PayPal
No need to deal with the embassy. We do it for you so you don't lose valuable time
Present your Passport and the Document we provide upon entry to destination country
How to Apply: Embassy Registration
Complete our easy online application and pay with credit card or PayPal
Your embassy will assist you if an emergency (eg. Natural disasters, civil unrest, etc) occur
Why Register with the Embassy
Required Information to Apply
Once You Have Registered With Your Embassy Or Consulate, You Will Need To Update Your Data If:
- your contact details change,
- your civil status changes,
- you are going back to your home country.
Travel visas for other countries
Questions?
It depends on your nationality.
Find out more about transiting on the UK government website.
The United Kingdom lifted all COVID-19 requirements.
It's important to note that having a valid visa or ETA for the UK does not guarantee entry into the country. The border control officers will assess if you're allowed entry into the UK based on factors such as security, financial details, travel history, and more.
Knowing whether you need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) or a Standard Visitor Visa is essential for planning your trip. Here’s a simplified guide to help you distinguish between the two:
UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): The UK ETA is available for visitors from certain countries, including those in the Gulf Cooperation Council and a few others. This list is expanding, so it’s crucial to check if your country is eligible.
It's intended for short visits, including tourism or business. It's perfect for brief stays up to 180 days. The process is entirely online, straightforward, and quick, as it also has fewer requirements.
UK Standard Visitor Visa: The main difference is that the visa is required for visitors from countries that do not qualify for visa-free entry or the ETA.
The application process is more comprehensive than the ETA, involving an online application, supporting documents, and sometimes an interview at a visa application center.
In short, the ETA and Standard Visitor Visa both facilitate short visits to the UK, but they cater to different traveler needs and come from distinct eligibility backgrounds.
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