Electronic Travel Authorisation

These days non-visa nationals – ie those who do not need a visa to come to the UK as a visitor – require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before they can embark on their journey to the UK as a visitor. 

An ETA is a virtual thing like an eVisa; it is not classified as a visa but it has some very similar properties. It is acquired through an online application process for which a fee is paid (but only £20). Like a visa it grants permission; ie permission to get on to the airliner and to get to the airport. 

It does not in itself grant permission to get through the border; the migrant has to apply for leave to enter the UK, but this was always the case for non-visa nationals anyway. Refusal of leave to enter at the border always was and always is a possibility. 

You might say that the substantial difference between a visitor visa application and an ETA application is that an ETA application is much shorter. The migrant does not get asked all sorts of questions about all sorts of things, as they do with a visitor visa application. They are asked a limited number of questions about criminality, adverse immigration history and adverse matters generally – that’s all. Another difference is that an ETA application is likely to be processed more quickly than a visitor visa application: within a few days rather than a few weeks. 

You might say that an ETA is a kind of initial security check. Whereas in previous times the initial security check might be done at the airport in the UK now it is done in the applicant’s home country. 

If the ETA is granted it is linked to the migrant’s passport and it lasts for two years. So for two years the migrant can use it to travel to the UK, and it does not have to be renewed every time. But at such time as the migrant gets a new passport – for whatever reason – they need to get a new ETA.

What if the migrant’s ETA application is refused? Well, very good question. It might be that their chances of coming to the UK as a visitor are doomed. The Home Office gives us the surely rather counterintuitive advice that in that case the migrant can apply for a visitor visa instead (non-visa nationals can always apply for a visitor visa if they want to). 

Well, this is going to cost £135, but what are the chances of success? Adverse immigration history and criminality have to be declared in a visa application in any case and the refusal process is likely to be similarly strict. In that case you might think that you might need to get specialist legal advice. 

We at GSN Immigration are here to help us if you need us. We can prepare ETA applications if that is what you need, and we can also advise about difficult situations. 

Oliver Westmoreland

Senior Immigration Lawyer