UK ETA or visa: work out which permission applies

Start with the passport that will be used at the border and the activity planned in the UK. Requirements can differ for tourism, family visits, business meetings, study, work and transit. Existing permission to live, work or study in the UK can also change whether a visitor needs an ETA.

• Identify the traveller’s nationality and any second nationality or citizenship.
• Check whether they already have permission to live, work or study in the UK.
• Describe the actual purpose and length of the UK visit, not just the name on the flight booking.
• Include any UK airport connection and confirm whether it passes border control.

A visitor may need a visa, may be eligible to travel with an ETA, or may already be exempt or hold permission that covers the trip. These routes are not interchangeable. An ETA is electronic permission to travel for eligible visitors; it is not a visa and does not guarantee admission. A visa has its own application and conditions. Some travellers need neither for a particular visit.

A static list of nationalities becomes unreliable when rules change and cannot account for dual citizenship, residence or the purpose of a trip. Use the current government checker with the exact details instead of choosing a route from a remembered table or a social media post.

• British and Irish citizens do not apply for a UK ETA. Check what passport or other proof of citizenship to carry.
• A person with existing UK immigration permission should check whether that permission remains valid and linked to the document they will use.
• A traveller with two nationalities should check requirements for the passport they will present and the rules attached to their citizenship.
• Work, long study, marriage or a stay beyond the visitor allowance may need a different route from a visitor ETA.
• A previous refusal or complicated immigration history may make a general online result insufficient; seek appropriate qualified advice if needed.

An application service cannot determine someone’s immigration status or advise that a person is eligible. If the answer depends on a complex history or legal interpretation, pause before paying for an ETA application.

1. Run the official checker for each traveller using the passport they intend to carry.
2. Follow the result to its matching route: ETA, visa, existing permission or exemption.
3. Read the conditions for the planned activity and length of stay.
4. If an ETA is required, apply with the same passport and wait for the decision before travelling.
5. Recheck if nationality, passport, travel purpose or route changes.

If the current rules say that a traveller needs an ETA, they can apply directly through the government for the £20 fee. ETAs.one offers optional paid help with collecting details, checking photos, preparing the application and submitting it after the traveller authorises it. The price includes the government fee plus our service charge and is shown before payment.

Our processing options are targets for our own review and submission after complete information and suitable photos arrive. They do not change the government’s decision time, make approval more likely or replace a visa application where one is required.