Travel permission (ETA) and visas
The UK ETA and a UK visa serve different purposes. This guide explains the key differences between the two, helping you understand which one you need and when.
- Section
- ETA
- Reading time
- 7 min
- Last checked
- 2 September 2026
- Source
- The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
- Rowan does not
- Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.
In short
- ETA: £20, minutes to process, for short visits only.
- Visa: £135+, weeks to process, for work, study, or longer stays.
- ETA holders cannot work or study in the UK.
- If you need to do more than visit, you need a visa.
An ETA is a quick, cheap digital authorisation for short visits. A visa is a more comprehensive permission for work, study, or long-term stay. This guide compares the two side by side.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Here is how the ETA and visa compare on the key factors:
- Cost: ETA is £20. Visitor visa starts at £135. Work and study visas cost more. See the complete fee guide.
- Processing time: ETA takes minutes (up to 3 days). Visas take weeks.
- Validity: ETA is valid for 2 years with multiple entries. Visa validity varies by type.
- Documents needed: ETA requires only your passport. Visas require supporting documents.
- Biometrics: ETA does not require biometrics. Most visas require a biometrics appointment.
- Work rights: ETA gives no work rights. Work visas allow you to work.
- Study: Visitor rules allow a course of up to 6 months (a recreational course, up to 30 days). Student visas allow longer study.
When You Need an ETA
You need an ETA if you are:
- Visiting the UK as a tourist
- Attending business meetings (but not working)
- Transiting through the UK on a route that passes through UK border control (staying airside needs no ETA)
- Visiting family or friends
- Taking a short course (up to 6 months)
- Receiving private medical treatment
Check if you need an ETA or see the countries list.
When You Need a Visa
You need a visa if you want to:
- Work. See the Skilled Worker visa, Global Talent visa, or Graduate route.
- Study. For courses longer than 6 months, see the student visa guide.
- Join family. See the spouse visa guide.
- Live in the UK long-term. See the Ancestry visa or other routes.
- Your nationality requires a visa. Some nationalities cannot get an ETA and must apply for a visitor visa even for short visits. Botswana, Nauru, Nicaragua and St Lucia were added to that list between October 2025 and March 2026.
Can I Switch from an ETA to a Visa?
In most cases, you cannot switch from visitor status (ETA) to a work or study visa from inside the UK. You would need to leave the UK and apply for the appropriate visa from your home country. There are some exceptions — see our switching visa categories guide.
This is an important difference from some other countries where you can change your immigration status while inside the country.
What Happens If I Overstay My ETA Visit?
If you stay longer than permitted (usually 6 months), you will be overstaying. This has serious consequences including potential removal, a ban from future entry, and a negative impact on any future UK visa applications.
ETA for Business Visitors
An ETA allows certain business activities such as attending meetings, conferences, and negotiations. However, you cannot:
- Be employed by a UK company
- Provide services to UK clients for payment
- Set up a business
If you need to work in the UK, you need a work visa. See our employer visa overview.
Next Steps
Determine whether you need an ETA or a visa based on your purpose of visit. For official guidance, see GOV.UK visa checker and the ETA guidance page.
Related guides:
Questions and answers
What is the difference between an ETA and a visa?
An ETA is a quick, low-cost digital travel authorisation for short visits (up to 6 months). A visa is a more detailed permission that can allow you to work, study, or stay long-term in the UK. ETAs are for visa-exempt nationalities; visas are for everyone else or for longer stays.
Can I work in the UK with an ETA?
No. An ETA only allows you to visit the UK as a tourist, for business meetings, or for other permitted visitor activities. You cannot work, study a long course, or access public funds. To work, you need a work visa.
Is an ETA easier to get than a visa?
Yes, significantly. An ETA application takes minutes, costs £20, and requires minimal documentation. A visa application requires supporting documents, may need a biometrics appointment, costs more, and takes weeks to process.
This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.