UK ETA After Renewing Your Passport in 2026 – Step by Step

Last updated: 19 October 2026

The UK ETA passport renewal rule is simple in 2026: every passport change cancels the existing Electronic Travel Authorisation, even when the ETA itself is still inside its two-year validity window. Some travellers only find this out at the check-in desk, where the airline may refuse to let them board. So before you fly to the United Kingdom again, a renewed passport means three simple actions.

The Home Office binds the ETA to the passport number, the document expiry, and the personal data printed on the photo page. When you get a new passport — through renewal, replacement after loss, or correction of an error — your existing authorisation cannot be transferred or updated, so you need a new one. The fix is cheap. A fresh ETA costs £20; you’ll usually get a decision within a day, but allow up to three working days. This guide walks through the full step-by-step path for 2026: when to renew, how to apply for a fresh ETA, what evidence to keep on your phone, and the mistakes that most often get the new application rejected.

Why the ETA is tied to the passport

The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation is electronically linked to the machine-readable zone (MRZ) of the passport you used to apply. The Home Office does not publish a list of the passport fields it stores for an ETA. At check-in, airlines confirm your ETA through automated checks against Home Office records — IATA’s Timatic database only lists entry requirements and does not check individual ETAs. If your passport details do not match, the airline will not be able to confirm your permission to travel automatically and may refuse to let you board.

The ETA is not stamped, stickered, or printed in any document. It lives entirely as a digital record. That is why you cannot move an existing ETA onto a new passport — the only valid path is to apply afresh. This rule holds no matter how many trips remain on your old authorisation. Renew your passport one month after an ETA grant and you still re-apply, even with 23 months of validity left.

Step 1 — Confirm your new passport details before applying

Get the new passport in your hand and check three pages: the photo page, the observations page, and the polycarbonate insert if your country uses one. Copy down the passport number exactly as printed, plus the date of issue, the date of expiry, and the country code. Your details must match your passport exactly, otherwise the application may be delayed or rejected. Photograph the photo page in good light before you start.

The app reads your details from the chip or from a photo of the details page. Your name is entered as it appears in the machine-readable zone (MRZ) at the bottom of the photo page — letters A–Z and spaces only, without accents, hyphens or apostrophes. Then check the spelling against the passport you will physically hand over at the gate, middle names and all, even the ones you rarely use.

Step 2 — Apply for the new UK ETA

The official UK ETA application starts at gov.uk/eta. It takes ten minutes and costs £20, charged in your local currency at the day’s exchange rate. You can also apply through the government’s ETA app for iOS or Android, which speeds up the photo step using your phone’s chip-reader. Whichever route you use, most applicants get a decision within one working day, but it can take up to three working days.

The form asks the same questions as the original ETA: your address, your job, any other nationalities you hold, criminal convictions (for example, any conviction in the last 12 months or a prison sentence of more than 12 months) and any involvement in war crimes, terrorism or extremism. Your answers must be accurate and consistent — an ETA must be refused if false information was given in that application or in a previous ETA application. Prepare the data once and reuse the responses word for word. If an earlier ETA was approved with “no convictions”, give the same answer now unless something genuinely changed in between.

Step 3 — Wait for the approval email

You’ll usually get a decision by email within a day, but allow up to three working days. If you haven’t heard by then, check your spam folder and then contact UKVI via webchat — don’t submit a second application, as GOV.UK asks for only one application per person. Applications are referred for manual review when identity cannot be verified automatically, when Home Office records contain adverse information (such as a previous visitor visa refusal), or when the applicant declares a criminal record; a failed chip scan in the app does not affect the outcome. Apply at least seven working days before departure to absorb any delay.

Common rejection reasons after passport renewal

Issue	Fix
Typo in passport number	Re-apply with exact data
Photo blur or shadow	Re-take in daylight
Inconsistent prior history	Match prior answers
Expired card payment	Update card details
Name field mismatch	Use exact spelling
Other	Contact UKVI

Lost passport — replacement vs renewal

If you apply with a passport that has been reported lost or stolen, your ETA application will be rejected, so always apply using your new replacement passport. Behind the scenes, the system cross-checks Interpol’s stolen document database. Most applicants still get a decision within one working day, but it can take up to three working days, so apply as soon as the replacement arrives.

Children’s passports and ETAs

Children’s passports renew every five years in most countries, while ETAs last two years. So a typical child traveller cycles through ETA renewals more often than adults. You do not have to be a parent or legal guardian to apply for a child — anyone can apply on someone else’s behalf. For applicants under 18, you must give contact details for someone with parental responsibility, and the child’s passport is the document scanned; the child must be with you if you use the app, otherwise apply online. UK rules do not require written consent from the other parent. However, Border Force may ask about your relationship with the child, so it can help to carry a birth or adoption certificate, a marriage or divorce certificate if your surname differs, or a letter from the child’s parent(s) if you are not the parent.

What to keep on your phone before flying

Once your new ETA comes through, you receive a confirmation email and a reference number starting with “ETA-“. Neither the check-in desk nor UK border control needs you to print or show the email — the entry is purely electronic. Still, an offline screenshot saves you when mobile data drops at the gate. Keep your old ETA reference too, in case a system reconciliation question comes up. Save the receipt from your card statement as proof of payment for any administrative dispute. The minimum digital pack: ETA confirmation email, ETA reference number, passport scan, payment receipt, and outbound boarding pass.

Cost summary in 2026 pounds

A new UK ETA costs £20 per applicant (since 8 April 2026, previously £16), and the Home Office offers no paid fast-track service.

Item	Cost	Note
UK ETA application	£20	Per applicant
Express ETA service	—	Not offered by Home Office
Third-party “speed” sites	Often more than £20	Avoid — same speed
UK passport renewal (adult)	£102 (since 8 April 2026; previously £94.50)	Online
UK passport renewal (child)	£66.50 (since 8 April 2026; previously £61.50)	Online

Frequently asked questions

How do I renew my UK ETA after getting a new passport?

You cannot renew, transfer or update an existing ETA. Apply for a brand-new ETA with your new passport — online on GOV.UK or in the official UK ETA app — and pay the £20 fee again.

Can I keep my old ETA after renewing my passport?

No. The ETA is bound to the original passport details and becomes invalid the moment your new document is issued. Therefore, you must apply for a new ETA, even if your existing ETA still has 22 months of validity remaining.

How long does the new ETA take after passport renewal?

Most applicants get a decision within one working day, but it can take up to three working days. Apply at least one week before flying to leave a buffer for any review.

Do I need to apply if I just changed my surname?

Yes. Any change to the printed name on the passport — including marriage, divorce, or deed poll — triggers a new ETA requirement. The new application takes about ten minutes online.

Can a travel agent apply on my behalf?

Yes. Anyone can apply on someone else’s behalf, so a travel agent or relative can submit the application for you. If the applicant is a child and you use the app, the child must be with you; otherwise apply online.

What if my new ETA is denied?

If the new ETA is refused, you cannot fly to the United Kingdom under the ETA scheme. There is no right of appeal. Instead, you must apply online for a Standard Visitor visa, which costs £135 (since 8 April 2026, previously £127); a decision usually comes within three weeks of proving your identity.

Are diplomatic passports treated differently?

Not because of the passport itself. The exemption depends on your status: people exempt from immigration control — for example, members of a diplomatic mission accredited to the UK and their households — do not need an ETA. A diplomatic or service passport holder travelling privately, for example as a tourist, still needs an ETA or a visa, depending on their nationality. Check with your Foreign Ministry before applying for an ETA on a diplomatic document.

What about emergency passports?

Emergency travel documents are not eligible for the ETA scheme. Therefore, you must apply for a Visitor Visa at the nearest UK Visa Application Centre before travelling on an emergency document.

What changes in 2026

On 8 April 2026 the ETA fee rose from £16 to £20. The app accepts Apple Pay, Google Pay, American Express, JCB, Mastercard and Visa. The app carries 32 user-interface languages, including Polish, Romanian, Italian, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish, and Arabic. There is still no right of appeal or administrative review against an ETA decision — if your ETA is refused, you will need to apply for a visa.

Final reminders

Always cross-check the new ETA confirmation email against the new passport — the personal data lines must match exactly. Save the ETA reference number on your phone alongside your boarding pass. The check-in agent does not need to see the ETA email, but a screenshot can help if there is a system problem at check-in. For visa-national-exempt visitors, the ETA scheme stays the simplest way into the United Kingdom in 2026 — and a renewed passport is no obstacle, as long as you follow the three steps above.

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