About eTA UK
The United Kingdom eTA is an electronic travel authorisation issued for those travelling short-term to Great Britain. As for now, the UK eTA scheme is available only to citizens of Qatar.
Moreover, nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will be allowed to apply for the electronic visa from February 2024.
Keep in mind that the online visa program is undergoing constant changes. According to the British authorities, more nationalities will probably be deemed eligible for the UK eTA in the future.
The electronic travel authorisation scheme includes travel related to tourism and leisure (holidays, reunions with relatives, conducting business, enrolling on short training). The UK eTA also allows you to visit Great Britain on the Creative Worker Visa concession or the Permitted Paid Engagement.
A valid eTA United Kingdom is required if you are planning to transit through British territory.
The validity period of the UK eTA is two years from the issuing date. As long as your visa is valid, you can visit the country multiple times. If your passport expires early, it will render your eTA UK invalid too.
The requirements for the United Kingdom eTA visa are elementary – all you need to prepare is a passport with sufficient validity and a biometric photograph taken by a professional.
You can easily complete the United Kingdom eTA application form via our intuitive website. Do not wait till the last minute and obtain the mandatory visa before leaving for the journey abroad.
Types of eTA UK
As of now, there is only one type of visa available in the travel authorisation eTA scheme for the United Kingdom. It works similarly to the Tourist Visa and can be issued for your travel if:
- You plan to enjoy your vacation or meet with your friends and family (up to 6 months)
- You plan to pursue activities related to business or studies (up to 6 months)
- You are travelling on the Creative Worker visa concession (up to 3 months)
- You are travelling for a Permitted Paid Engagement (up to 1 month)
- You are transiting through the United Kingdom
For long-term travel related to other activities, such as taking up paid employment or enrolling in university, you are required to apply for a standard visa at the nearest embassy or consulate.
How to apply for an eTA to the United Kingdom
You do not have to worry about the application for the electronic travel authorisation eTA as the process is truly effortless. Before starting the procedure, make sure you have a working electronic device connected to the Internet. You should be done in less than 15 minutes.
- Fill in the visa application form – Answer questions regarding your personal and passport data. You also need to provide sufficient travel details (accommodation, arrival).
- Submit the required documents – Once the form is completed, you must upload the documentation to the website. It would be best if the files were saved in PFD format.
- Pay for the processing fee – It is essential to cover the obligatory fee for submitting the application form. You can use a credit card, debit card, or online payment service.
To avoid any problems with your application for the UK eTA, we strongly recommend to double-check the completed form. If there are any spelling mistakes, you will be given a visa refusal.
When your UK eTA is approved, it will be delivered straight to your e-mail inbox. Print it out before the trip to avoid any difficulties on the road. The average processing time is a few days.
Validity period
The standard validity period of the electronic travel authorisation UK eTA is 2 years. Depending on your travel plans, you will be able to stay in the country between 1 month (30 days) and 6 months (180 days).
However, keep in mind that the UK eTA is electronically linked to your passport number. Therefore, if your passport expires, your visa will also not be valid anymore.
Requirements for eTA UK
For the visa application to be hassle-free, make sure you meet the United Kingdom eTA requirements. It is highly recommended that you gather all the required documentation beforehand.
To avoid any technical issues with the registration, prepare an electronic device of your choice (laptop, tablet, smartphone) and make sure it is connected to the Internet.
Required documents
While filling out the form, you will be asked to attach the following documents:
- Passport with a validity period of at least 6 months
- Passport-like biometric photo of the applicant
Requirements on arrival
During immigration control at the airport, officers will check the following documents:
- Passport with a validity period of at least 6 months
- Approved printed visa for the United Kingdom