UK ETA Validity Period and Stay Limits: 2026 Rules Explained

Quick answer: A UK ETA normally lasts two years or until the linked passport expires, whichever happens first. A standard visit is usually limited to six months. Those are two different clocks: travel authorisation and permission to stay.

Validity, stay limits and application guidance checked against GOV.UK on 11 October 2026. This is general information, not an assessment of your immigration circumstances.

First check whether you actually need an ETA. Having a passport from an ETA-eligible country does not settle that question on its own: existing UK immigration permission and other exemptions matter. Use the official ETA overview before applying.

Understanding how long a UK ETA lasts — and precisely how long it allows you to stay per visit — is where many travellers make avoidable errors. Validity and length of stay are not the same thing. Confusing the two can lead to overstaying or, in some cases, refused entry.

This guide explains the UK ETA validity period, the stay limits that apply per visit, how to check your ETA status, and what travellers must understand before booking their trip.

What the UK ETA Is — and What It Is Not

The UK electronic travel authorisation is a digital travel permission, linked directly to the passport used during the application. It is not a visa. The distinction matters, because the rules governing each are different, and the two terms are not interchangeable.

The scheme applies to specified non-visa nationals travelling for eligible purposes, unless an exemption applies. If you need a visa, an ETA is not a substitute for it.

Crucially, an ETA does not guarantee entry. The Immigration Rules distinguish permission to travel from permission to enter. An approved application does not remove the entry assessment.

UK ETA Validity: How Long Does It Last?

The UK ETA is valid for two years from the date it is granted, or until the passport it is linked to expires — whichever comes first (GOV.UK Immigration Rules, Appendix ETA 4.1).

Illustrative example, not a reported traveller case: if your passport expires 14 months after approval, do not plan to use that ETA for the full two years. The passport expiry cuts the normal validity period short. An ETA can also be cancelled; the approval date alone is not proof it remains usable.

Key points on validity:

• Two-year maximum — counted from the grant date, not the application date
• Passport-linked — the ETA becomes void when the travel passport expires
• Non-transferable — a new passport requires a new ETA application
• Multiple journeys permitted — while the ETA remains valid, subject to the conditions of each visit

What Happens When You Get a New Passport?

This catches many travellers off guard. If you renew your passport while your ETA is still within its two-year window, the ETA linked to your old passport is no longer valid. You must apply for a new ETA using your new passport before travelling. There is no transfer mechanism; the application must be completed afresh.

Dual nationals should check the official exemption guidance rather than assume they need an ETA because they also hold a foreign passport. For someone who does need one, it is the application passport that matters.

UK ETA Stay Limits: How Long Can You Stay Per Visit?

For ordinary tourism, family visits, eligible business activities or short study, the ETA guidance describes visits of up to six months. The Creative Worker concession has a different limit, up to three months. Follow the conditions of the route you actually use.

Leaving and returning does not guarantee a fresh six-month stay. The ETA can support another eligible journey, but it cannot be used to live in the UK through frequent or successive visits. A short trip abroad is not a residence workaround.

Common misunderstanding:

• “Two years validity means I can stay for two years” → Not true
• “I can combine several short trips to accumulate more than six months at once” → Not how border rules work
• “My six-month stay automatically renews when I re-enter” → Not automatically; each entry is assessed

The six-month limit is a ceiling per visit, not a guaranteed entitlement. Border officers may grant a shorter leave on arrival if they judge that circumstances warrant it.

If you need more time, distinguish extending your stay from replacing your ETA. A new ETA does not extend your existing permission to stay. Visitor extension guidance allows some people admitted for less than six months to apply to reach six months in total. Longer extensions are restricted to specified medical, academic or examination circumstances. Apply before current permission expires if eligible; do not assume you qualify.

What the UK ETA Allows — and Does Not Allow

With an approved UK ETA, travellers may visit for:

• Tourism and leisure
• Visiting family or friends
• Short business meetings and conferences
• Eligible short-term study
• Certain permitted paid engagements
• Transit through the UK (where passport control is involved)

The UK ETA does not permit:

• Ordinary paid or unpaid work for a UK employer, or self-employment; specific permitted engagements and the Creative Worker concession have their own conditions
• Studying on a long-term course
• Accessing public funds
• Settling or residing in the UK
• Using frequent or successive visits to make the UK your home

For a purpose outside the relevant route, check which visa or permission is required. Standard Visitor guidance includes conditional medical visits; medical treatment is not simply prohibited for every visitor. Check the specific requirements rather than rely on an ETA approval.

UK ETA Cost and Processing Time in 2026

The government application charge is £20, checked on 11 October 2026 at GOV.UK. It is non-refundable after applying. An agent may add a service charge, but another website or app cannot obtain a faster government decision.

GOV.UK says decisions usually arrive by email within a day; allow up to three working days. This is not a guaranteed one-working-day service. Wait for the approval email before travelling. It contains a 16-digit reference number. If no decision arrives after three working days, check spam or junk before contacting UKVI.

Application requirements:

• Valid passport (the same passport used for travel)
• Facial biometric photograph — taken via the UK ETA app or uploaded online
• Email address for correspondence
• Payment method — credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay

Applications can be made through the official UK ETA app or at gov.uk/eta/apply. Do not use sites that imitate the government service.

How to Check Your ETA Status and Reference Number

The official ETA checker needs the passport used for the application. It lets you confirm:

• Whether an ETA exists for your passport
• When the ETA expires

This checker is not a pending-application tracker and is not advertised as a reference-number retrieval service. Look for the 16-digit reference in your decision email. Our ETA status guide explains the difference between checking existing permission and following up a missing decision.

Travellers do not need to present a printed ETA or carry documentation proving their authorisation. The ETA is linked digitally to the passport, and airlines and border officers verify it electronically. Showing your passport is sufficient.

Common Mistakes Around UK ETA Validity and Stay Limits

Use these checks to catch misunderstandings before they affect your plans. They are practical implications of the official rules, not claims about cases handled by our editors:

• Assuming two-year validity equals two years of continuous stay — it does not; each visit is capped at six months
• Applying for an ETA and then renewing their passport — the ETA becomes void; a new application is required
• Relying on an expired ETA for a journey that requires one — check existing permission before departure and apply again if needed
• Booking long-term accommodation before ETA approval — approval is not guaranteed; wait for the confirmation email
• Confusing agent charges with the government fee — read the total and service terms before paying
• Ignoring your actual permitted stay — it may be shorter than six months; do not use ETA expiry as your departure deadline
• Travelling on a different passport than the one used for the ETA application — the ETA is not transferable between passports

A previous immigration breach can affect future applications under the Immigration Rules. If you are unsure about your permission or deadline, seek official guidance or qualified immigration advice rather than guessing from your ETA approval.

After Approval: Practical Guidance Before You Travel

Once your ETA is confirmed, keep the following in mind:

• Travel with the same passport — the ETA is void if you present a different document at the border
• Check the expiry date carefully — if your passport expires before the two-year window closes, your ETA expires with it
• Do not book non-refundable travel before the ETA is approved — processing is usually fast, but approval is not guaranteed
• Keep the confirmation email — useful for finding your reference, although GOV.UK says you only need to show your passport for the ETA when travelling
• Check each family member separately — children who need an ETA require their own application; exemptions still apply

For travellers planning to visit multiple times during the two-year window, note that each re-entry is assessed independently. Carry evidence of your intended itinerary, accommodation arrangements, and sufficient funds for the visit. Border officers may ask for these on arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How long is the UK ETA valid for?

The UK ETA is valid for two years from the date it is granted, or until the passport it is linked to expires — whichever comes first. Once the passport expires, the ETA is no longer usable, even if the two-year period has not elapsed.

Q: How long can I stay in the UK per visit with an ETA?

A standard visit is usually allowed for up to six months, subject to admission and visitor conditions. Other ETA-supported routes can have different limits. Follow your actual permission, not the ETA expiry date.

Q: Can I travel to the UK multiple times on one ETA?

Yes, while it remains valid, but each visit must meet its conditions. Repeated visits must not be used to live in the UK. Another entry does not guarantee another six months.

Q: How do I check my ETA reference number or status?

Use GOV.UK Check your ETA with the application passport to check existing permission and expiry. Find the reference in your decision email. The checker cannot track a recent application awaiting a decision.

Q: What happens if my passport expires before my ETA does?

Your ETA becomes invalid when your passport expires. You must apply for a new ETA using your new passport before travelling to the UK.

Q: Does the UK ETA guarantee entry to the UK?

No. An approved ETA permits you to travel to the UK, but entry is always subject to assessment by border officers on arrival. Approval of an ETA does not override that assessment.

Conclusion

Keep the two clocks separate. Check that the ETA is usable for your journey, then follow the duration and conditions of your admitted stay. A two-year authorisation is not a two-year right to live in the UK, and replacing it is not an extension of your visit.

Before departure, confirm eligibility, passport and expiry through GOV.UK. If your plans fall outside an ordinary short visit, check the applicable immigration route before booking around an assumed six-month allowance.

Sources checked: ETA application and validity; permitted activities and limits; ETA checker; visitor extensions; Appendix ETA.