UK ETA Validity Period 2026 — How Long It Lasts and What Controls It

Understanding the UK ETA validity period is essential for planning your trips to the United Kingdom correctly. An ETA that has expired — or one invalidated by a passport renewal — will cause your airline to refuse you boarding. This guide explains exactly how long your ETA lasts, what can shorten it, and how to keep track of your authorisation.

Quick Facts: UK ETA Validity Period

How Long Is a UK ETA Valid?

A UK ETA is approved for two years from the date the application is decided — not from the date you first travel. This means you can apply well in advance and the two-year clock starts immediately on approval. One important exception: if your passport expires before the two-year period is up, your ETA is only valid until your passport expiry date, as the ETA is linked to a specific passport number.

For example, if your ETA is approved in June 2026, it is valid until June 2028 — assuming your passport does not expire before that date.

The Passport Rule: Why This Matters

The most common reason for an ETA becoming invalid before its two-year period ends is a passport renewal. The UK ETA is permanently tied to the passport number you provided during application. If you renew your passport, replace a lost passport, get a new passport due to a name change, or obtain a second passport — you must apply for a new UK ETA before travelling. See our guide on checking passport validity.

Unlimited Entries During the Validity Period

Within the two-year validity period, your UK ETA permits unlimited trips to the United Kingdom. There is no cap on the number of times you can enter the UK per year. However, each individual stay is limited to a maximum of six months. You may return immediately after departure — each new entry begins a fresh six-month allowance.

This makes the UK ETA particularly valuable for regular business travellers, people with family in the UK, those who visit multiple times per year for tourism, and transit passengers. For more on multiple entries, see our multiple entries guide.

How to Check Your UK ETA Validity

1. Use the official UK ETA app — download from the App Store or Google Play and log in with your application details.
2. Use the gov.uk ETA status service — visit gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status.
3. Check your approval email — the original decision email will state the validity period.
4. Contact the Home Office — if you cannot find your original confirmation, contact UK Visas and Immigration.

For a full walkthrough, see our ETA status check guide.

Reapplying When Validity Expires

1. Go to gov.uk/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta
2. Complete a fresh application with your current passport number
3. Upload a new face photograph
4. Pay the £10 fee again
5. Receive your new ETA decision — apply at least three working days before travel

Tips for Managing Your UK ETA Validity Period

• Set a calendar reminder — note your ETA approval date and set a reminder 3 months before the two-year expiry.
• Check your passport expiry date too — your ETA expires when your passport expires, even if the two-year period has not ended.
• Apply for a new ETA immediately after getting a new passport — do not wait until your next trip.
• For families, track all members’ ETAs separately — each person’s ETA has its own expiry linked to their own passport.

Common Mistakes With UK ETA Validity

• Renewing a passport without applying for a new ETA — the most common mistake; your new passport has a different number.
• Assuming the ETA is still valid after two years — some travellers book a UK trip without checking whether their ETA has passed the two-year mark.
• Confusing ETA validity with permitted stay per visit — the two-year validity and the six-month stay limit are separate rules.
• Not checking the ETA before booking travel — always confirm your ETA is still valid when booking any UK-bound trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the UK ETA validity start from when I apply or when I travel?
From the date of approval — not when you first enter the UK.

Can I extend my UK ETA beyond two years?
No. The ETA cannot be extended. You must apply for a new one when it expires.

If I haven’t used my ETA, does it still expire?
Yes. The validity period counts from approval, regardless of whether you have used it.

Does the UK ETA validity change if I travel between England and Scotland?
No. The ETA covers all of the United Kingdom — England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — under a single authorisation.

Can I apply for a new ETA before my current one expires?
Yes. There is no restriction on applying for a new ETA while an existing one is valid.

Plan your UK visit: With a valid two-year ETA, the UK is open for unlimited visits. The VisitBritain destinations guide is an excellent starting point. For family planning, see our families guide.

How Validity Interacts With Your Passport

The single most important rule about ETA validity is that the authorisation is electronically tied to the exact passport you used to apply. It is valid for two years from approval — unless your passport expires sooner, in which case the ETA dies with the passport. There is no way to transfer an ETA to a new passport, no matter how recently you obtained the authorisation. If you renew your passport, you apply again, full stop. For travellers whose passports are within a year of expiry, it is usually smarter to renew the passport first and then apply, so the ETA can run its full two-year course.

During its validity the ETA allows an unlimited number of entries, with each individual stay capped at up to six months. You do not need to track a quota of trips, but you should be ready to show that each visit is genuinely temporary — border officers care more about your pattern of travel than the number of stamps.

Checking How Much Validity You Have Left

Keep your approval email: it states the decision date, and counting two years forward gives you your expiry. If you are unsure, the official status-checking service lets you verify your authorisation against your passport details before you book travel. A good habit is to check validity at the moment you book flights, not at the airport — discovering an expired ETA at check-in turns a routine trip into a same-day scramble.

• Booked a trip that starts inside validity but ends after it? You are fine: the ETA must be valid when you arrive, not for every day of your stay.
• Travelling with family? Check every traveller’s expiry separately — approvals granted on different days expire on different days.
• Changed your name or passport details? That counts as a new passport: apply again before travelling.

Renewal Strategy for Frequent Visitors

There is no renewal discount or fast lane — a “renewal” is simply a fresh application. Frequent visitors should diarise a reminder about a month before expiry and re-apply between trips rather than just before one. Applying while you still hold a valid ETA is allowed, and the small overlap is far less costly than a delayed decision colliding with a departure date. Business travellers who fly to the UK several times a year get the most value by aligning a passport renewal and a fresh ETA application back-to-back, locking in the full two years.

Does leaving and re-entering the UK reset anything?

Each entry is assessed on its own. The ETA stays valid regardless of how often you cross the border within its two-year window; what border officers watch is whether your cumulative presence looks like de facto residence. Genuine tourism, business trips and family visits with clear returns home are unproblematic.

Is there a grace period after expiry?

No. An expired ETA is invalid from day one, and airlines will deny boarding. Re-apply before travel — decisions usually arrive quickly, but allow up to three working days to be safe.