Can You Apply for a UK ETA on Android? Phone Requirements and What to Do If It Won't Install

Yes, you can apply for a UK ETA on an Android phone, provided your device meets the official requirements. The UK ETA app is one of two accepted ways to apply for an electronic travel authorisation to travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man. This guide explains exactly what your Android phone needs, why the app asks for camera and NFC access, and what to do if the app will not install or work on your device.

What the UK ETA app does and when you can use it instead of the online form

The 'UK ETA' app is used to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.

You do not have to use the app. The online form is also the required route in some situations.

To apply for someone who is not with you, apply online.

If you are with the person you want to apply for, you can use the app. You will need to take a photo of them and scan their face. You can apply for someone else's ETA on the UK ETA app if they're with you.

Before you decide which method to use, it is worth checking the full uk eta application requirements. The core requirements are the same for both methods, but the app adds specific phone and scanning requirements that the online form does not have.

Android phone checklist: Android 12 or later, NFC for passport scanning, 165MB free storage

If you want to use the UK ETA app on an Android phone, your device must meet the official requirements published by the UK government for the app.

Android 12 or later

Android users need Android 12 or later. You can find your Android version in your settings.

Check your Android version before you begin the application.

NFC for passport scanning

NFC, or Near-Field Communication, is the technology that lets your phone read the chip embedded in a biometric passport. You can find NFC in your settings.

165MB of free storage

Android users need at least 165MB of storage space to install the app.

If you are low on storage, clear some space before you start.

Why the app needs your camera, NFC and a biometric passport — and how to prepare your passport

The UK ETA app uses your phone's hardware to verify your identity and link your ETA to the correct passport. Understanding why each permission is needed can help you prepare and avoid errors during the application.

Camera access

When you apply, you'll need to upload or take photos of the face of the person applying.

NFC and the biometric passport chip

NFC lets the app read the electronic chip inside your passport.

Preparing your passport for scanning

You must take a photo of the same original passport you will use to travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man. It must be the original passport, not a photocopy or digital passport. Before you start, remove any cases or covers from your passport and phone.

Step-by-step: installing from Google Play and completing the scan in English only

The application process is straightforward, but it is worth reading each step before you begin. The app is only available in English, so you will need to follow the instructions in English throughout.

Step 1: Check your phone meets the requirements

Before you download anything, confirm that your Android phone runs Android 12 or later, has NFC, and has at least 165MB of free storage. If any of these are missing, skip to the section on applying online instead.

Step 2: Download the app from Google Play

Android users download the app from the Google Play Store. Search for "UK ETA" and look for the official app published by the UK Home Office.

You cannot get a faster decision by applying through another website or app.

Step 3: Allow camera and NFC access

When you open the app, it will ask for permission to use your camera. You will also need NFC enabled in your phone's settings.

Step 4: Gather what you need before you apply

Before applying for an ETA using the app, you need the passport you will travel with, an email address, and a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Have these ready before you start.

Step 5: Scan your passport

Step 6: Scan your face

After the passport scan, the app will ask you to scan your face. If you are applying for someone aged 10 or older, you need to scan their face.

If you are with the person you want to apply for, you can use the app, and you will need to take a photo of them and scan their face.

Step 7: Complete the application and pay

Follow the remaining on-screen questions. You will need to pay the application fee using a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The app is only available in English, so all questions and instructions will appear in English.

Step 8: Wait for the decision email

If your phone fails the requirements: applying online instead

Not every Android phone can run the UK ETA app.

The online form is the specified alternative to the app.

When applying for someone else who is not with you, you'll need a photo of their passport and a photo of their face.

Before you start, it is useful to know how much does a uk eta cost. The fee is the same whether you apply through the app or online.

Not everyone needs an ETA to travel to the UK. If you are unsure, check who needs a uk eta before you pay.

After you apply: deleting the app, decision emails and checking your ETA

Once you have submitted your application, there are a few practical things to know about what happens next.

You can delete the app

You can delete the app after you finish applying. Your ETA will be linked to the passport you applied with.

You only need to show your passport when you travel to the UK.

Wait for the decision email

Check your ETA online

You can check online if you have an ETA and when your ETA expires. To check your ETA online you need the passport you used when you applied for your ETA. You cannot use the service if you recently applied for an ETA and have not received one yet.

Contact UKVI if you have not had a decision after 3 working days.

What your ETA allows

An ETA lasts for 2 years. You can travel to the UK as many times as you want while you have an ETA. You can apply for an ETA to come to the UK as a tourist, to visit family or for certain other reasons for up to 6 months.

With an ETA you can come to the UK for a permitted paid engagement. An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK.

If your passport changes

Your ETA will be linked to the passport you applied with. If your passport has expired or changed, you need to apply for a new ETA. If your ETA has expired, you can apply for a new ETA.

This guide is independent general guidance, not a government service. You should verify requirements with official sources before travel. The authoritative source for the UK ETA app and application process is GOV.UK's guidance on using the UK ETA app.

Official sources checked

• GOV.UK: using the UK ETA app
• GOV.UK: Immigration Rules, Appendix ETA
• GOV.UK: apply for an ETA
• GOV.UK: check your ETA
• GOV.UK: Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
• GOV.UK: when you do not need an ETA
• GOV.UK: what you can and cannot do with an ETA

The facts in this guide were last compared with these official pages on 1 November 2026. Check the current page before you apply or pay.