UK ETA

UK ETA

by Home Office

1.6K ratings
847 reviews
#36 in free Utilities
🔧 Utilities
✈️ Travel
Free

Details

Released
October 23, 2023
Updated
August 19, 2026
UK ETA screenshot #1 for iPhone
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About

Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK. The process involves scanning your passport and face, answering questions, and paying a fee. Decisions are typically received by email within a day.

✓Apply for UK ETA
✓Scan passport chip
✓Facial scan for identity
✓Digital payment
✓Email decision notification
✓Secure application process
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What users say about UK ETA

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What's New in UK ETA

2.42.909

August 19, 2026

Performance improvements

Charts

Top Free

📉 36-1

Utilities

This app dropped -1 position in Utilities chart.

Last updated on October 29, 2026.

User reviews

Malfunctions

App malfunctions and suddenly turns into a black screen, or half the page is blank

Difficult to use

The functionality where the app takes a picture of your passport is badly done. We tried a dozen different times with each of our passports and it keeps complaining that “there is a problem with the picture”. No, mate, there is a problem with the app!
The app decides when to take the picture (it doesn’t wait for the user to press the button) and then complains about the picture. We could not see any problem with the pictures of our passports. We hope it all works out well.
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Failed repeatedly

The worst travel app ever designed. It kept crashing each time, which requires starting over in a 8-step process. Apparently the government would prefer that no one travel to the UK.

Why charge Canadian

Not serving the king now?

Near impossible get app to accept photo of passport.

They specify that the photo of your passport you upload cannot be reflective, shiny or have bright spots, etc. Apparently the developers didn’t realize that the page in the passport is laminated with a reflective, shiny plastic that, um, when photographed is shiny and reflective. Tried all kinds of different lighting with no luck. And no, they don’t accept scans, which would be foolproof. Sigh.
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Developer apps

User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

3 issues

Camera not working on certain devices

Bug

Inability to retake passport photo

Bug

Payment process issues causing app to freeze

Bug
✨

Requested Features

3 requests

Account to track application status

Feature

Digital copy of ETA within the app

Feature

Support for multiple family members in one application

Feature

FAQ

What is the UK ETA app used for?

The UK ETA app is used to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) which is required for certain individuals to travel to the UK. The application process is designed to be quick and straightforward, allowing users to complete it in approximately 10 minutes.

How do I apply for a UK ETA using the app?

To apply, you will need to take a photo of your passport, scan the chip in your passport, scan your face, take a photo of yourself, answer a few questions, and pay the application fee. You will need an iPhone 8 or newer with iOS 16 or later, your passport, a payment method, and access to your emails.

How much does a UK ETA cost?

The application for a UK ETA requires a fee, which can be paid using a credit card, debit card, or Apple Pay. The exact cost is not specified in the description, but it is a required part of the application process.

What happens after I apply for a UK ETA?

After submitting your application, you will receive a decision by email from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), usually within a day, but allow up to 3 working days. The email will contain your 16-digit ETA reference number. You must wait for this confirmation before travelling to the UK.

Is the UK ETA app secure?

Yes, the app is designed to be safe and secure. No information is stored on the app or your phone after you close it. You can delete the app once your application is complete. For further information on online safety, you can visit the UK Cyber Aware website.