Apply for your UK visa online

It depends on your passport. British and Irish citizens do not need anything. Visa-exempt (non-visa national) travelers, such as citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, and EU countries, need a UK ETA rather than a visa. Travelers from visa national countries, such as India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, and South Africa, need a UK Standard Visitor Visa. Start your application and we'll confirm which one applies to your nationality and trip.

No. England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are all part of the United Kingdom, so a single UK visa or UK ETA covers a trip to London as well as the Scottish Highlands. There is no separate England visa, Great Britain visa, or London visa. The Republic of Ireland is a separate country and is not covered by a UK travel document.

Citizens from 'non-visa national' countries (such as the US, Australia, and EU nations) require a UK ETA. If you are from a 'visa national' country, you must still apply for a Standard Visitor Visa. Important: British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA. If you hold a valid UK visa or EUSS status, you are also exempt.

You apply online for both UK travel documents: there is no paper form. For both the ETA and the Standard Visitor Visa, you answer questions about your passport, your trip, and your eligibility, then upload a passport scan and a photo. With iVisa the form is shorter than the official one and your progress is saved, so you can finish in a later session. Our experts review everything before it is filed with the Home Office, and you get an email as soon as a decision arrives. Standard Visitor Visa applicants also attend a biometric appointment at a Visa Application Centre.

US citizens do not need a visa for short visits, but they do need a UK ETA before they travel. It covers tourism, visiting family and friends, business, transit, and short-term study, and allows stays of up to 6 months per entry. You can apply from the United States, or anywhere else, from any browser, and iVisa will check the application before filing it with the Home Office.

If you pass through UK Border Control, for example to collect baggage, change airports, or stay overnight, you need the same travel document as any other visitor: an ETA if you are visa-exempt, or a visitor visa if you are a visa national. Rules for staying airside depend on your nationality and airport, and many visa nationals need a Direct Airside Transit Visa, which iVisa does not currently handle. Check your route before you book.

No. UK visas and ETAs are issued by the UK Home Office through UK Visas and Immigration, and iVisa is an independent service rather than a government agency or the official portal. We prepare and file the application on your behalf: a shorter form, an expert review of your details and photo before anything is submitted, and human support if something comes back. You pay the government fee plus an iVisa service fee, and the Home Office makes the decision.

The authorization is digitally linked to your passport. Once approved, you will receive an email confirmation. There is no physical sticker. However, it is highly recommended to keep a digital copy on your phone or a printout, as carriers will verify your permission to travel before you board.

As an eVisa, a digital immigration status linked to your passport, which you view and share through your UKVI account. Since 25 February 2026 the UK no longer places a vignette (sticker) in your passport for a new visit visa. You still attend a biometric appointment at a Visa Application Centre so your identity and documents can be checked.

You can stay for up to 180 days (6 months) per visit. The ETA itself is valid for two years (or until your passport expires), allowing for multiple entries during that period.

Yes. Every traveler, including infants and children, must have their own individual ETA or visa. You can manage applications for your entire family together in one session on the iVisa platform.

For an ETA, if denied you cannot board your flight and will receive a notification from the Home Office; you may be able to re-apply if it was a simple typo. For a Standard Visitor Visa, you will receive a 'Refusal Letter' explaining the decision, with common reasons being lack of ties to your home country or unclear source of funds. iVisa offers denial protection to support you in these cases.

No. An ETA cannot be extended, and in most cases a standard 6-month visitor stay cannot be extended either. If you wish to stay longer or change your status to work or study, you must apply for a specific visa from outside the country.