This guide to the UK ETA application on etourist.com is a reference page. It collects the numbers, terms, dates and contact points you are likely to look up before and after you apply, with each fact traced to GOV.UK, the Home Office or eTourist’s own pages.
Use it alongside the application rather than as a walkthrough. Each section stands on its own, so you can jump straight to the part you need.
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Government fee | GBP 20 per person | GOV.UK |
| Validity | 2 years, or until the passport expires if sooner | GOV.UK |
| Longest single visit | 6 months | GOV.UK |
| Usual decision time | Within a day, up to 3 working days | GOV.UK |
| Recommended lead time | At least 3 working days before travel | Home Office |
| eTourist refund request window | 7 days from ordering | eTourist refund policy |
The UK ETA Application on etourist.com in Brief
An electronic travel authorisation, or ETA, is digital permission to travel to the UK for visitors who do not need a visa for short stays. The UK Home Office issues it and charges the GBP 20 fee.
eTourist is a private service run by Travel Zoom LLC, a Delaware company trading as eTourist. It prepares the application from your answers, checks it and submits it to the government for you, then sends you the result.
Note. eTourist states that it is not affiliated with, endorsed by or acting for any government. Its terms also say you are free to apply directly with the government yourself.
Terms You Will Meet on the Form
A handful of words come up again and again in official guidance and on eTourist’s pages. Knowing them makes both easier to read.
Government terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ETA | Electronic travel authorisation, linked to one passport |
| eVisa | A digital visa, for people who need a visa rather than an ETA |
| Border Force | The officers who make the final entry decision on arrival |
| Airside transit | Changing planes without passing UK passport control |
| ETA reference number | The 16-digit number in the decision email |
| Face scan | A liveness check in the UK ETA app for applicants aged 10 and over |
eTourist terms
- Service fee. eTourist’s charge for preparing and submitting the application, on top of the government fee.
- Standard, Rush and Super Rush. Service levels that set how fast eTourist prepares your file, not how fast the government decides.
- Denial Protection. An optional add-on that refunds the service fee if the ETA is refused, excluding applications with inaccurate information.
- Non-responsive. An order where eTourist asked for information and did not hear back within 7 days.
Official Pages Worth Bookmarking
GOV.UK keeps the rules in a few short pages. They are the place to check if anything on a third-party site seems out of date.
- The main GOV.UK ETA page, with cost, validity and who needs one
- The apply page, listing what you need and how long decisions take
- The page on when you do not need an ETA
- The page on what you can and cannot do with an ETA
- The guidance on using the UK ETA app, including phone requirements
GOV.UK also offers webchat for ETA questions. It says UK Visas and Immigration does not provide phone support for ETA enquiries.
Who Does Not Need an ETA
Before using any of the figures above, check you need an ETA at all. GOV.UK lists several groups who do not.
- British and Irish citizens, including dual citizens
- Holders of a UK visa
- People with permission to live, work or study in the UK, including settled or pre-settled status
- Holders of a British overseas territories or British National (Overseas) passport
- Travellers changing planes airside without passing border control
eTourist’s UK page repeats the main exemptions, so an order is only worth placing if none of them applies.
Phone and Photo Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| UK ETA app on iPhone | iPhone 7 or newer, iOS 16 or later |
| UK ETA app on Android | Android 12 or later, with NFC |
| Face photo background | Plain and light-coloured, with clear contrast |
| Face photo lighting | Well-lit room, no shadows |
| Payment on GOV.UK | Credit or debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay |
| Payment on eTourist | Major cards, per its UK page |
eTourist’s web form needs no particular phone, and it accepts a face photo taken on a phone.
Contact Points and Addresses
| For | Contact |
|---|---|
| eTourist order help | 24/7 live chat, or support@etourist.com with your order number |
| eTourist privacy requests | privacy@etourist.com |
| eTourist registered address | 1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, Suite 1382, Wilmington, DE 19801, USA |
| Official ETA questions | GOV.UK webchat |
For anything about a specific eTourist order, start with live chat or the support email. The refund policy says refund decisions are confirmed in writing to the email on the order.
Dates That Shaped the Scheme
The ETA is new, and the rules around it changed quickly between 2023 and 2026.
- October 2023. The ETA scheme launched.
- 24 November 2025. The Home Office announced enforcement, saying 13.3 million visitors had applied by then.
- 25 February 2026. Enforcement began. Airlines now refuse boarding to visitors who need an ETA and lack one.
- 8 April 2026. The fee rose from GBP 16 to GBP 20.
Good to know. The Home Office says 24.8 million ETAs were issued from launch to the end of 2025. It also notes that fees are kept under review, so check the current figure before paying.
How to Use This Reference
Check the key numbers before you start, keep the glossary open while you fill in the form, and save the contact table for after you submit. If a figure on any site differs from GOV.UK, go with GOV.UK.
Tip. Save the decision email and your eTourist order number in the same folder as your flight booking, so everything is together at check-in.
The Bottom Line
The verdict on this guide’s subject is straightforward to state.
The UK ETA itself is simple: GBP 20, two years, six months per visit, decided by the Home Office. eTourist adds a paid layer of preparation and support on top of that, and its own pages are clear that it is not the government. This is general information, not immigration advice.
Note. Its refund window is short and its service levels only affect its own preparation, so the figures in this guide are worth checking before you pay. This is general information, not immigration advice.