Got a new passport? Check your UK ETA before travelling

An ETA is stored electronically against the passport used to apply, rather than printed as a visa sticker that can be moved. If the traveller gets a new passport, the existing ETA does not transfer to it. The traveller should make a new application with the passport they will use for travel.

An ETA can remain valid for up to two years or until its linked passport expires, whichever happens first. That validity does not make it usable with another passport. If the passport changes, plan for a new application and decision before departure.

The simplest sequence is usually to wait until the replacement passport is issued, then apply using its details. This avoids paying for an ETA tied to a passport you will not carry. If the travel date is close, weigh the renewal timing against the time needed for a fresh ETA decision before making a booking or application choice.

• Check the ETA requirement for the traveller before applying.
• Compare the new passport’s name, number, nationality and expiry date with the application form.
• Allow up to three working days for the government decision, and leave additional room if possible.
• Wait for the new ETA confirmation and check that it is linked to the new passport before travel.

1. Do not assume the old ETA covers the replacement passport.
2. Use the official status service to check the ETA linked to the old document if you need to confirm its details.
3. Make a new ETA application using the replacement passport if the traveller still needs one.
4. Keep the new application decision with the new passport details and do not travel until it is confirmed.

A renewal can also change the passport number even when the traveller’s name and nationality stay the same. It is the document link that matters, so matching names alone are not enough.

If the passport used for the ETA is lost, first follow the issuing country’s process to report and replace it. Once a replacement is issued, check the current ETA instructions and apply with the replacement document if required. Also contact the airline or travel provider about their document rules; an ETA does not replace a valid travel document.

You can submit a new application directly through the official government service for the £20 government fee. If you prefer help, ETAs.one can check the replacement passport details and photo, prepare the application and submit it after authorisation. The price is higher because it includes our service fee as well as the government fee, and is shown before payment.

Any selected processing target applies to our review and submission after complete information and suitable photos arrive. It does not make the Home Office decide faster. Apply early enough to leave time for the government’s decision and do not rely on a same-day outcome.