How to Apply for a UK ETA — Step-by-Step Guide 2026
Applying through application-eta.uk takes under 10 minutes. You will need your passport, a selfie photo, and a payment card. Choose your service plan (€69 / €119 / €169 total), complete the form, and our team reviews everything before submitting to the Home Office. Most applicants receive their ETA approval by email within minutes. You can apply for a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) directly on the official GOV.UK website for a fee of £20.00.
Video Guide: How to Apply for Your UK ETA
Watch our step-by-step walkthrough showing exactly how to complete your UK ETA application through application-eta.uk — from start to approval in under 10 minutes.
Watch this video on YouTube: Watch Video
Ready to Apply? It Takes Under 10 Minutes.
Click the button to start your application.
Start Your UK ETA Application ➤What You Need Before You Start
Have the following ready before opening the application form — the process is faster when everything is prepared in advance.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Valid biometric passport | From an eligible country. Must be the passport you will travel with. Your ETA is linked to this specific passport number. |
| Selfie photo | Plain white or light background, no glasses, neutral expression, even lighting. Taken on your phone — original file, not forwarded via WhatsApp. Full photo guide ➤ |
| Passport biographical page photo | Photo of the page with your name, photo, and passport number. Flat on a dark surface, no glare. |
| Email address | Your approval will be sent here. Use one you check regularly. Check spam after applying. |
| Payment card | Visa, Mastercard, or Amex. Total charged in Euros: €69 (Regular), €119 (Priority), €169 (Dedicated Agent). Veterans, students & minors: tick the discount box in the form. |
| Travel details | Expected arrival date in the UK. Specific flight details are not required. |
Step-by-Step Application Process
Step 1 — Start your application
Click Apply Now on our homepage. Enter your name, email address, and expected arrival date in the UK.
Step 2 — Choose your service plan
Select the plan that suits your timeline:
- Regular (€69 total) — 48–72h processing. Best if your travel is more than 7 days away.
- Priority (€119 total) — ~24h processing. Recommended if travelling within 3–7 days.
- Dedicated Agent (€169 total) — 1–6h processing. Best for urgent travel or complex cases.
If you are a military veteran, student, or minor under 18, tick the relevant box before payment to receive a 10% discount on the handling fee.
Step 3 — Pay and open the full form
Complete payment. You will receive an immediate confirmation email. A new tab opens with the full application form — your email and plan details are already pre-filled.
Step 4 — Enter your passport details
Fill in your details exactly as they appear in your passport:
- Full name (including middle names if in your passport)
- Nationality — and any other nationalities you hold
- Date of birth
- Passport number and expiry date
- Residential address
- Phone number (optional but recommended)
Your full name — including middle names — must match the machine-readable zone of your passport exactly. A mismatch is the most common reason for delays. Our team checks this before submission.
Step 5 — Upload your passport biographical page
Photograph your passport open at the data page (the page with your photo, name, and machine-readable zone). Place it flat on a dark surface and photograph from directly above. No glare on the surface. All four corners must be visible. See our photo requirements guide for full details.
Step 6 — Upload your selfie photo
Take a photo of your face against a plain white or light background. Good natural lighting from a window. No glasses. Mouth closed. Eyes open and visible. Upload the original file from your camera roll — do not use a WhatsApp-forwarded image as it will be compressed. Full requirements: UK ETA photo guide ➤
Step 7 — Answer suitability questions
Answer 8 yes/no questions about your background — criminal history, immigration violations, and health grounds. For the vast majority of applicants, all answers are No. Answer truthfully — a Yes triggers manual review, not automatic refusal.
Step 8 — Submit
Review all details, then submit. Our team receives your application and begins the expert review process — checking your photo quality, name match, and all details before forwarding to the Home Office. Please wait for your application’s final result (1–3 days) and check your spam or junk folder as well.
Apply for Your UK ETA with Our Mobile App (Android only)
The fastest way to complete your UK Electronic Travel Authorisation application is through our free Android app, UK ETA Apply, available now on Google Play.
Designed to guide you through every step of the process, the app checks your eligibility, collects your details, validates your passport photo and selfie automatically, and submits your application — all from your phone.
What you can do in the app:
Apply for your UK ETA in minutes by following a simple step-by-step form. The app automatically checks whether your nationality requires an ETA before you begin. Upload your passport photo and selfie directly from your camera or gallery — our built-in photo validation tool checks image quality, sharpness and document authenticity in real time, so your application is not rejected due to a poor photo. Pay securely using your credit or debit card, or Google Pay, processed through Stripe. Receive your ETA reference number by email as soon as your application is submitted. Update your passport photo or selfie at any time using a secure one-time token, without restarting your application.
Available in 16 languages
Available in 16 languages: English, German, French, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Romanian, Czech, Hungarian, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Danish, Turkish.
Download now
The app is free to download. Download UK ETA Apply on Google Play and complete your application in under 10 minutes. Pricing is similar to the website application.
Photo Requirements Summary
| ✔ ACCEPTED | ✘ REJECTED |
|---|---|
| Plain white or light grey background | Furniture, curtains, or patterns behind you |
| Neutral expression, mouth closed | Smiling with teeth showing |
| No glasses | Glasses — clear or tinted |
| Even lighting, no shadows on face | Shadows from hat, glasses, or overhead light |
| Full face visible, chin to top of head | Hair or headwear covering forehead |
| Original file from camera roll | WhatsApp-forwarded or screenshot (compressed) |
| No filters or editing | Beauty mode, Instagram or Snapchat filters |
Full guide with accepted vs rejected examples: UK ETA Photo Requirements 2026 ➤
After You Submit — What Happens Next
- Immediate confirmation email — you receive this as soon as your application is submitted to us. Check spam if it does not arrive within 5 minutes.
- Expert review — our team checks your photo, passport details, and name match before forwarding to the Home Office.
- Home Office processing — most applications are approved within minutes. Some take up to 3 working days for manual review.
- Approval email — contains your ETA reference number. Save this email. Your ETA is linked electronically to your passport — no printing required.
Once you receive your approval email, verify your ETA is active using our status check tool. You will need your nationality, passport number, passport expiry date, and date of birth. This confirms your ETA is correctly linked to your passport before travel.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | How to Avoid It |
|---|---|
| Name doesn’t match passport | Include all middle names exactly as in the machine-readable zone of your passport |
| Wrong passport number | Double-check every character — zero vs letter O is the most common error |
| Wrong date of birth or nationality | Copy directly from your passport biographical page |
| Photo rejected | Plain white background, good natural light, no glasses — see our photo guide |
| Typo in email address | Check carefully — your approval email is sent here and cannot be resent to a different address |
| Renewing passport before travel | If you renew your passport after applying, you must apply again — ETA is linked to the old passport number |
| Applying too late | Apply at least 72 hours before departure — most approvals are instant but some take up to 3 working days |
How Much Does It Cost?
All prices are in Euros (EUR) and include the mandatory UK Government fee of £20 (~€23). No hidden charges. Payment by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
| Plan | Total (EUR) | Processing | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | €69 €62 discounted* |
48–72 h | Photo review · Passport check · Email delivery · Basic support |
| Priority | €119 €107 discounted* |
~24 h | Photo review · Passport check · Priority queue · 24/7 support |
| Dedicated Agent | €169 €152 discounted* |
1–6 h | Photo review · Passport check · Personal agent · 24/7 fast support · Complex cases |
* 10% off the handling fee for students, military veterans, and minors under 18. Select the relevant option in the application form before payment — no documentation required. All plans include the non-refundable UK Government fee of £20 (~€23).
Ready to Apply? It Takes Under 10 Minutes.
Our team reviews every photo and passport detail before submission — catching errors before they reach the Home Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to apply for a UK ETA through application-eta.uk?
The application form itself takes under 10 minutes to complete. Once submitted, our team reviews your application before forwarding it to the Home Office. Most applicants receive their ETA approval email within minutes of submission. Some applications take up to 24 hours, and a small number require manual review of up to 3 working days.
What documents do I need to apply for a UK ETA?
You need your valid biometric passport, a selfie photo (plain white background, no glasses), a photo of your passport biographical page, your email address, and a payment card. Travel details such as your expected arrival date are also required — specific flight details are not mandatory.
How much does it cost to apply?
Applying through application-eta.uk costs €69 (Regular), €119 (Priority), or €169 (Dedicated Agent) total, charged in Euros at checkout. This includes the UK Government fee of £20 (~€23) and our handling fee. Veterans, students, and minors under 18 receive a 10% discount on the handling fee — tick the relevant box in the form before payment.
Can I apply for a UK ETA for someone else?
Yes. You can apply on behalf of a family member, child, or any other person. You use your own email address and payment method, but enter the other person’s passport details, photo, and suitability answers. You are responsible for ensuring all information is accurate. Each person requires a separate application.
What happens after I submit my application?
You receive an immediate confirmation email from us. Our team then reviews your photo and passport details before forwarding to the Home Office. You will receive a second email with the decision — approved or refused. Most approvals arrive within minutes. Your ETA is linked electronically to your passport — no printing required.
I made a mistake on my application. Can I edit it?
If you applied through our Priority or Dedicated Agent plans, our team reviews your application before submission and will catch most errors. If the application has already been submitted to the Home Office, it cannot be edited — a new application will be required. Contact our team immediately if you notice an error.
Do I need to print my UK ETA approval?
No. Your UK ETA is linked electronically to your passport number. Airlines check it automatically at check-in by scanning your passport. You do not need to show or print any document. We recommend saving your approval email and keeping the ETA reference number accessible on your phone in case of any query at the border.
Sources: UK Home Office — UK ETA application guidance (gov.uk/eta), March 2026 · Home Office Immigration System Statistics, February 2026.