UK ETA Renewal 2026: Process, Cost and Timing Explained

If your Electronic Travel Authorisation is about to lapse, you do not extend it — you replace it. The UK ETA renewal process is really a fresh application, and knowing exactly when and how to do it keeps your travel plans on track. This guide walks through every trigger, step and timing rule so you never arrive at the airport with an expired authorisation.

TL;DR: A UK ETA renewal means submitting a brand-new £20 application, because an ETA cannot be prolonged. You renew when the two-year validity ends or when you get a new passport. Most decisions land within minutes, but allow up to three working days before any trip to be safe.

What does the UK ETA renewal process actually involve?

The UK ETA renewal process involves making a completely new application rather than updating an existing one. There is no “renew” button and no reduced renewal fee — you complete the same form, upload a fresh photo and pay the same £16 charge confirmed in the official UK ETA guidance (UK Home Office, accessed 23 June 2026). The word “renewal” is simply how most travellers describe reapplying once their old authorisation expires.

This differs from extending an authorisation, which is not possible at all. If your question is really about how quickly a fresh authorisation clears, see our guide on UK ETA processing time. Renewal is about timing a new application correctly; an ETA cannot be lengthened, only replaced, so the practical skill is knowing when to reapply and how fast approval arrives. Treat each renewal as a routine five-minute task rather than a bureaucratic hurdle, and it rarely causes travel disruption.

When should you start a UK ETA renewal?

You should start a UK ETA renewal as soon as your current authorisation expires, or immediately after you receive a new passport. The ETA stays valid for two years or until your passport’s expiry date, whichever comes first, so the trigger date is whichever of those two events arrives sooner. Applying early does not extend an existing ETA — a new one simply starts a fresh two-year window from the application date.

There are three clear moments to reapply:

• Two-year expiry: your authorisation reaches the end of its validity.
• New passport: the ETA is electronically linked to your passport chip, so renewing your passport always voids the old authorisation.
• Damaged or replaced travel document: any change of passport number means a new ETA is required.

Since the scheme expanded to European nationals on 2 April 2025, millions of travellers have entered this two-year cycle, and UK Visas and Immigration applies the same rule to every nationality (UK Visas and Immigration, accessed 23 June 2026).

Pro tip: Set a calendar reminder two weeks before any trip to check your ETA status. Because a new passport instantly cancels an old authorisation, the most common renewal mistake is travelling on a passport that no longer matches your valid ETA.

UK ETA renewal step by step

Renewing a UK ETA takes the same five steps as a first application and is usually finished in under fifteen minutes. The Home Office advises allowing up to three working days for a decision, although many applicants receive approval within minutes, according to the official guidance (UK Home Office, accessed 23 June 2026). Follow this sequence:

1. Confirm you need to renew. Check whether your ETA has expired or your passport has changed.
2. Download the official UK ETA app or open gov.uk. Avoid third-party resellers that add fees.
3. Scan your current passport. The app reads the chip to link the new ETA correctly.
4. Upload a clear photo and answer the eligibility questions. Each traveller, including children, needs a separate application.
5. Pay the £16 fee and submit. Keep the confirmation email; nothing needs printing.

How much does a UK ETA renewal cost in 2026?

A UK ETA renewal costs £16 per person, the same fee as a first-time application. That price rose from £10 to £16 on 9 April 2025, a 60% increase introduced across the whole scheme (UK ETA guidance, accessed 23 June 2026). There is no discount for renewing, no family bundle and no charge for the email decision itself.

Because each authorisation lasts up to two years and covers unlimited visits of up to six months, the renewal cost averages around £8 per year. For frequent visitors that is excellent value compared with a Standard Visitor visa, which costs significantly more and suits only longer stays. Use the check if you need a UK visa tool if your trips are likely to exceed six months.

Does a new passport force a UK ETA renewal?

Yes — a new passport always forces a UK ETA renewal, even if your old authorisation still had time left. The ETA is bound to a single passport number electronically, so the moment you receive a replacement document the previous authorisation no longer applies. Carrying both passports does not help; the border and airline systems check the passport you actually present.

This is the single most overlooked trigger. Travellers who renew a passport months before a trip often assume their ETA “moves across” automatically — it does not. Always reapply after any passport change and double-check the details before booking flights, as advised in the official guidance (UK Home Office, accessed 23 June 2026).

UK ETA renewal after a refusal or error

If a previous ETA was refused or contained an error, you do not appeal — you submit a corrected new application. There is no formal appeal route for an ETA decision; instead you reapply with accurate information. If you made a typo in your passport number or personal details, a fresh application with the correct data resolves it for the standard £20 fee.

Where an application is refused, the Home Office may direct you to apply for a visa instead, and the visa checker will confirm the right route. Honest, accurate answers on every renewal reduce the risk of refusal, and you should never use an agent who promises a “guaranteed” approval.

What information carries over in a UK ETA renewal?

Nothing carries over automatically in a UK ETA renewal — you re-enter your details each time, because the system treats every application as new. You will retype your passport number, personal information and travel details, and upload a fresh photo. While that sounds repetitive, it takes only a few minutes through the official app, which reads most data straight from your passport chip.

Re-entering everything has a practical benefit: it forces you to confirm your information is current. Travellers whose name, passport number or appearance has changed since the last application get a clean, accurate record. The Home Office links the new authorisation to your latest passport, and the old ETA is simply retired. Because there is no manual review for straightforward cases, accurate self-reported data is what keeps the renewal fast (UK Home Office, accessed 23 June 2026).

Keep your confirmation email after every renewal. Although the ETA is stored digitally against your passport and you never need a printout at the border, the email is useful proof of the application date and the two-year window it started. Frequent visitors find it helpful for tracking exactly when their next renewal falls due.

Frequently asked questions about UK ETA renewal

Is UK ETA renewal cheaper than the first application?
No. Every UK ETA renewal costs the full £20. There is no loyalty pricing or reduced renewal rate.

Can I renew before my ETA expires to bank extra time?
No. Renewing early just starts a new two-year window from that date; it does not add to your existing validity.

How long does a renewal take to approve?
Often minutes, but allow up to three working days. Never leave it to the last moment before a flight.

Do children need a separate renewal?
Yes. Every traveller, including babies, needs their own ETA and their own renewal application.

What if my renewal is refused?
There is no appeal. You reapply with correct details, or apply for a visa if the Home Office advises that route.

In short, a UK ETA renewal is nothing more than a well-timed new application — quick, predictable and £16 each time. Track your two-year expiry, reapply the moment your passport changes, and always use the official gov.uk service so your authorisation is ready before you fly. A few minutes of planning before each trip is all it takes to keep your UK travel completely uninterrupted, and it costs nothing beyond the standard renewal fee when the time comes.