How long is a UK ETA valid?

2 years, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. Within that period you can travel to the UK as many times as you like, staying up to 6 months on each visit. Since 9 April 2026 the same ETA also covers Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

How long does an ETA take to be approved?

Most applications get an automatic decision within minutes, and the Home Office says the great majority are decided within 3 working days. A minority are pulled for manual review and take longer. Apply at least 3 working days before you fly, and never book non-refundable travel on the assumption that your ETA will be granted.

We are a private agency, not the UK Government. This is not a UK Government website. We are an independent agency charging a service fee in addition to the official Home Office fee. You can apply directly at gov.uk/eta.

How long a UK ETA takes

Usually minutes. Occasionally days. Plan for the second and you will never miss a flight.

Minutes

The majority of applications are decided automatically, often before you have closed the browser tab.

Up to 3 working days

The Home Office asks everyone to allow this much. It is the figure to use when you are booking travel.

Longer

A small number go to manual review — usually where a suitability answer needs a caseworker's judgement. There is no fast track and no way to pay to escalate.

Nobody can buy you a faster decision

If an agency offers a guaranteed ETA in one hour, they are selling you a promise the Home Office has not given them. The decision engine is the same whoever files. What a good agent actually shortens is the time you spend getting the form right — and the risk of a refusal that costs you weeks.

When to apply

As soon as you know you are going, and at minimum 3 working days before departure. There is no downside to applying early: the 2-year clock starts at approval, and an unused ETA costs you nothing.

If you are already at the airport

Apply immediately through the official UK ETA app — that is the fastest route that exists, and it is free of our fee. Airlines are required to check for a valid ETA before boarding and will refuse you without one. In that situation, use GOV.UK directly. We would rather you caught your flight.

What we do while you wait

We watch the file. If the Home Office asks a question we answer it the same working day, and we tell you the moment a decision lands — by email and, if you want, WhatsApp.