Quick answer
An ETA is for short visits by people who do not need a visa: up to 6 months for tourism, family, business meetings or short study, for £20. You need a visa instead if your nationality is not on the ETA list, or if you want to work, stay longer than 6 months, live in the UK or get married there.
On this page
Side by side
| UK ETA | Standard Visitor visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | 82 visa-exempt nationalities | Nationalities that need a visa to visit |
| Fee | £20 | £135 for up to 6 months |
| Application | App or online, no appointment | Online form, then fingerprints and photo at a visa application centre |
| Earliest application | Any time | 3 months before travel |
| Usual decision time | Within a day, up to 3 working days | Within 3 weeks |
| Valid for | 2 years, many visits | Up to 6 months (longer-term visit visas exist) |
| Longest stay | 6 months per visit | 6 months per visit |
When an ETA is enough
- holidays and city breaks
- visiting family and friends
- business meetings, conferences and trade fairs
- a short course of study of up to 6 months
- passing through the UK on the way to another country
When you need a visa even with an ETA nationality
- you will work in the UK, paid or unpaid, for a UK employer or as a self-employed person
- you plan to stay longer than 6 months
- you want to marry or register a civil partnership in the UK (Marriage Visitor visa)
- you are moving to the UK to study on a longer course or to join family
If your ETA is refused
There is no appeal and no review of an ETA decision. If your application was refused you need to apply for a visa, usually a Standard Visitor visa. If it was only rejected, for example because of a problem with the photo, you can apply for an ETA again. There is no waiting period.
GOV.UK suggests that people with a criminal record, or who were refused entry to the UK before, may want to apply for a Standard Visitor visa instead of an ETA.
Questions
Can I switch from an ETA to a work visa while I am in the UK?
An ETA only lets you travel as a visitor. Check the route you want on GOV.UK before you travel: most work and study visas must be applied for from outside the UK.
I have a valid UK visa. Do I also need an ETA?
No. Anyone with a UK visa is exempt from the ETA.
Is the ETA the same as the US ESTA?
They work in a similar way, but they are separate schemes. An ESTA is for the United States and is not valid for the UK.
Sources
Checked on 10 November 2026. Rules can change; the official pages below always take priority.