What you need to apply for a UK ETA
Less than most people expect. There are no bank statements, no hotel bookings and no invitation letters — an ETA application asks for none of them.
A valid biometric passport
It must be the passport you will actually travel on, and it must have a biometric chip — the small gold symbol on the cover. Your ETA is tied to that specific passport number.
A digital photo of your face
A plain photo against a light background, no glasses, no head covering except for religious reasons, eyes open, neutral expression. A phone photo is fine if it meets the GOV.UK standard — we check yours and tell you if it will be rejected.
An email address you check
Every decision and every follow-up question goes there. Use an address you will still have access to for the next two years.
Honest answers about your history
You will be asked about criminal convictions, previous visa refusals and immigration breaches. Answer truthfully. A concealed refusal discovered later is far more damaging than a disclosed one handled properly.
What you do not need
- Flight or hotel bookings
- Bank statements or proof of funds
- An invitation letter from anyone in the UK
- Travel insurance
- A biometrics appointment or an interview
If a website asks you to upload bank statements for an ETA, it does not understand the product it is selling.
The suitability questions are where applications fail
Almost every refusal we see comes from these questions, not from the passport details. A conviction that was spent in your own country may still count. A visa refused years ago in another country still counts. If you are unsure how to answer, ask us before you file — that conversation is free.
Every traveller needs their own
Including newborn babies. There is no family application and no discount for children — each person pays the full £20 official fee. We file family groups in one session so the whole party is cleared together.