{"id":1036,"date":"2026-04-09T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/?p=1036"},"modified":"2026-03-29T13:18:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T13:18:42","slug":"uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"UK ETA and Criminal Records: Will I Be Refused?"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/b3_1036_0.jpg\" alt=\"UK ETA and Criminal Records: Will I Be Refused? - courthouse justice building\" class=\"wp-image-1281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/b3_1036_0.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/b3_1036_0-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/b3_1036_0-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/b3_1036_0-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/b3_1036_0-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<h2>Does the UK ETA Application Ask About Criminal Convictions?<\/h2>\n<p>Yes. The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation application includes a direct question about your criminal history. Specifically, it asks whether you have ever been convicted of a criminal offence in any country. This is one of the eligibility questions that the UK Home Office uses to assess whether granting you entry to the United Kingdom poses a risk.<\/p>\n<p>Many travellers from visa-exempt countries are understandably anxious about this question, particularly those with old or minor convictions. This guide explains how criminal records are assessed for ETA purposes, what types of convictions are likely to cause problems, and what options remain if your ETA is refused.<\/p>\n<p><img src='https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/uk-eta-requirements-checklist.webp' alt='UK ETA requirements and eligibility checklist' class='wp-image-968' \/><\/p>\n<h2>How the UK Home Office Assesses Criminal Records<\/h2>\n<p>The UK has clear immigration rules regarding criminal convictions. While the ETA system involves automated processing, applications flagged for criminal history receive additional scrutiny. The key factors the Home Office considers include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Severity of the offence<\/strong> &ndash; violent crimes, drug trafficking, and sexual offences are treated most seriously<\/li>\n<li><strong>Length of custodial sentence<\/strong> &ndash; this is the primary threshold used for decisions<\/li>\n<li><strong>How recently the conviction occurred<\/strong> &ndash; recent offences carry more weight<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pattern of offending<\/strong> &ndash; multiple convictions suggest ongoing risk<\/li>\n<li><strong>Rehabilitation evidence<\/strong> &ndash; steps taken since the offence may be considered<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For a full overview of ETA requirements, see our <a href=\"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/uk-eta-requirements-2026-guide\/\">UK ETA requirements 2026 guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>The 12-Month Custodial Sentence Threshold<\/h2>\n<p>The most important threshold in UK immigration law regarding criminal records is the <strong>12-month custodial sentence<\/strong>. Under the Immigration Rules, a person who has been sentenced to a period of imprisonment of 12 months or more (whether served or suspended) is normally refused entry to the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n<p>This rule applies regardless of:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How long ago the sentence was imposed<\/li>\n<li>Whether the conviction is &ldquo;spent&rdquo; under the law of the country where it was imposed<\/li>\n<li>Whether the person has been rehabilitated<\/li>\n<li>The nature of the offence (the sentence length is what matters, not the specific crime)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If your conviction resulted in a custodial sentence of 12 months or more, an ETA refusal is highly likely. In this situation, your best option would be to apply for a <strong>Standard Visitor Visa<\/strong> instead, where you can present your case in full with supporting documents.<\/p>\n<h2>Convictions Within the Last 12 Months<\/h2>\n<p>Even if your sentence was less than 12 months, a conviction within the <strong>last 12 months<\/strong> creates an additional risk factor. The UK Home Office views recent offending as a stronger indicator of potential risk than older convictions.<\/p>\n<p>If you were convicted of any offence within the past year, there is an elevated chance that your ETA application will be flagged for manual review. The outcome will depend on the nature and severity of the offence, but you should be prepared for a possible refusal.<\/p>\n<h2>Minor Offences: DUI, Misdemeanours, and Traffic Violations<\/h2>\n<p>This is the area where most travellers have questions, and where the answers are least clear-cut. Based on the immigration rules and reports from travellers on forums:<\/p>\n<h3>Drink Driving (DUI\/DWI)<\/h3>\n<p>A single drink-driving conviction that resulted in a fine or short ban (no custodial sentence) is <strong>unlikely to prevent ETA approval<\/strong>, especially if it occurred more than a year ago. However, you must still declare it honestly on the application. Multiple DUI convictions or a DUI involving an accident with injuries could receive closer scrutiny.<\/p>\n<h3>Minor Traffic Offences<\/h3>\n<p>Speeding tickets, parking violations, and similar minor traffic infractions that did not result in a criminal conviction generally do not need to be declared and will not affect your ETA. The question specifically asks about <strong>criminal convictions<\/strong>, not administrative penalties or fines.<\/p>\n<h3>Misdemeanours (US and Similar Jurisdictions)<\/h3>\n<p>For travellers from the United States and other countries that distinguish between misdemeanours and felonies: the UK does not recognise this distinction. What matters is whether the offence resulted in a criminal conviction and what the sentence was. A misdemeanour that resulted in a criminal conviction must be declared.<\/p>\n<h3>Cannabis and Minor Drug Offences<\/h3>\n<p>Possession of small amounts of cannabis that resulted in a caution or minor fine in your home country may not prevent ETA approval, but it should be declared if it constitutes a criminal conviction. Drug trafficking or supply offences of any scale are treated very seriously and will likely result in refusal.<\/p>\n<p><img src='https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/uk-eta-online-application-2026.webp' alt='UK ETA application process online' class='wp-image-967' \/><\/p>\n<h2>Why Honesty Is Always the Best Policy<\/h2>\n<p>One of the most critical pieces of advice regarding criminal records on your ETA application: <strong>always tell the truth<\/strong>. This cannot be emphasised strongly enough.<\/p>\n<p>Here is why lying or omitting information is far worse than declaring a conviction:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The UK shares criminal record data<\/strong> with many countries through international agreements. Your conviction may already be known to UK authorities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>False declaration is a separate offence<\/strong> under UK immigration law. If discovered, it can result in an entry ban that is far more severe than the original conviction would have caused.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A false declaration can affect future visa applications<\/strong> to the UK and other countries. Immigration systems worldwide increasingly share data.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Discovery at the border<\/strong> &ndash; even if your ETA is approved, UK Border Force can refuse entry if they discover undeclared convictions during questioning. This is far more disruptive than dealing with the issue upfront.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A traveller with a declared minor conviction who is honest and transparent has a far better chance of being admitted than someone who tries to hide their history.<\/p>\n<h2>Spent Convictions and Rehabilitation<\/h2>\n<p>Many countries have laws that allow criminal convictions to become &ldquo;spent&rdquo; after a certain period, meaning they no longer need to be disclosed for most purposes. However, <strong>UK immigration is an exception<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Even if your conviction is considered spent under the laws of your home country, you are still required to declare it on the UK ETA application. The UK Home Office does not recognise the spent conviction schemes of other countries for immigration purposes.<\/p>\n<p>That said, the fact that a conviction is old and that you have demonstrated rehabilitation can work in your favour if your application is reviewed manually. The passage of time, evidence of a stable life, and no further offending all count positively.<\/p>\n<h2>What Happens If Your ETA Is Refused<\/h2>\n<p>If your ETA application is refused due to your criminal record, several important things to understand:<\/p>\n<h3>No Appeal Process<\/h3>\n<p>There is <strong>no formal appeal mechanism<\/strong> for ETA refusals. The decision is final. You cannot challenge it through the ETA system. For more detail on what to do after a refusal, see our <a href=\"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/uk-eta-refused-help-guide\/\">comprehensive guide on ETA refusal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Apply for a Standard Visitor Visa<\/h3>\n<p>If your ETA is refused, you can apply for a <strong>Standard Visitor Visa<\/strong> at a UK visa application centre. This is a more thorough process where you can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Submit a covering letter explaining your circumstances<\/li>\n<li>Provide evidence of rehabilitation (employment records, character references, certificates of good conduct)<\/li>\n<li>Demonstrate strong ties to your home country<\/li>\n<li>Explain the purpose of your visit in detail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Standard Visitor Visa costs more (currently &pound;115) and takes longer to process, but it allows you to present your case fully &ndash; something the ETA system does not accommodate.<\/p>\n<h3>Do Not Attempt to Travel Without an ETA<\/h3>\n<p>If your ETA has been refused, do not attempt to board a flight or other transport to the UK without resolving the issue. Airlines check ETA status before boarding, and you will be refused boarding. Attempting to enter the UK without a valid ETA or visa is an immigration offence.<\/p>\n<h2>Practical Scenarios<\/h2>\n<h3>Scenario 1: Old Conviction, Short Sentence<\/h3>\n<p><em>A German citizen was convicted of theft 15 years ago and received a 3-month suspended sentence.<\/em> This person should declare the conviction honestly on their ETA application. Given the minor nature of the offence, the short sentence, and the significant time elapsed, approval is likely. However, they should be prepared for the application to take longer than the standard few minutes if it is flagged for manual review.<\/p>\n<h3>Scenario 2: Serious Conviction<\/h3>\n<p><em>An Australian citizen served 18 months in prison for assault 8 years ago.<\/em> Because the custodial sentence exceeded 12 months, this person is very likely to be refused an ETA. They should consider applying directly for a Standard Visitor Visa, where they can present evidence of rehabilitation, employment history, and character references.<\/p>\n<h3>Scenario 3: Recent Minor Offence<\/h3>\n<p><em>A Canadian citizen received a DUI conviction 6 months ago, resulting in a fine and driving ban but no imprisonment.<\/em> This is borderline. The conviction is minor (no custodial sentence) but very recent. The ETA may be approved, but there is a risk of refusal or delay. Honest declaration is essential.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/b3_1036_1.jpg\" alt=\"UK ETA and Criminal Records: Will I Be Refused? - legal documents paperwork\" class=\"wp-image-1282\" \/><\/figure>\n<h2>Tips for Travellers With Criminal Records<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Apply early<\/strong> &ndash; do not wait until the last minute before your trip. If your application is flagged for manual review, it could take up to 72 hours. Apply as soon as you book your trip.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Be completely honest<\/strong> &ndash; declare all convictions, even minor ones. A false declaration is far worse than any conviction.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Carry documentation<\/strong> &ndash; bring copies of any relevant court documents, certificates of rehabilitation, or police clearance certificates. While the ETA itself does not require these, they could be useful at the UK border.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Have a backup plan<\/strong> &ndash; if you have a serious conviction, be prepared for the possibility of refusal. Consider whether to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa directly instead of risking an ETA refusal on your record.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Seek legal advice for complex cases<\/strong> &ndash; if you have multiple convictions or a serious criminal history, consider consulting an immigration lawyer before applying. They can advise whether an ETA or a visa is the better route.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/b3_1036_2.jpg\" alt=\"UK ETA and Criminal Records: Will I Be Refused? - fingerprint identification\" class=\"wp-image-1283\" \/><\/figure>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Do I need to declare a caution or warning?<\/h3>\n<p>A police caution (common in the UK, Australia, and some other countries) is not the same as a criminal conviction. If the ETA question specifically asks about <strong>convictions<\/strong>, a caution generally does not need to be declared. However, if the question is broader and asks about any dealings with the criminal justice system, you should include it. When in doubt, declare it &ndash; honesty cannot hurt you.<\/p>\n<h3>Will a cannabis conviction in a country where it is now legal affect my ETA?<\/h3>\n<p>Potentially yes. Even if cannabis has since been legalised in your country or state, if your conviction was imposed when the activity was illegal, it remains a criminal conviction. However, a minor possession offence from years ago is unlikely to result in ETA refusal on its own.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I reapply if my ETA is refused?<\/h3>\n<p>You can submit a new ETA application, but if the circumstances have not changed, the result is likely to be the same. Your previous refusal will be on record. A Standard Visitor Visa application is usually the more productive path forward.<\/p>\n<h3>Does the UK check criminal records with other countries?<\/h3>\n<p>The UK has information-sharing agreements with many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and EU member states. While they may not automatically check every applicant against every country&rsquo;s database, the capability exists and is used when applications are flagged for review.<\/p>\n<h3>My conviction was expunged. Do I still need to declare it?<\/h3>\n<p>This depends on the specific legal effect of the expungement in your jurisdiction. In some countries, an expunged record is treated as if it never existed. In others, it simply means it is sealed from public view but still exists. For UK immigration purposes, if the conviction ever existed, the safest approach is to declare it and note that it has been expunged. An immigration lawyer can provide country-specific advice.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The UK ETA application asks about criminal convictions &ndash; you <strong>must answer honestly<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>A custodial sentence of <strong>12 months or more<\/strong> will very likely result in refusal<\/li>\n<li>Convictions within the <strong>last 12 months<\/strong> carry additional risk<\/li>\n<li>Minor and old offences (DUI, small fines) are unlikely to prevent approval<\/li>\n<li><strong>False declaration<\/strong> is far worse than any conviction and can result in a permanent ban<\/li>\n<li>If refused, there is <strong>no appeal<\/strong> &ndash; apply for a Standard Visitor Visa instead<\/li>\n<li>Apply early and carry documentation of rehabilitation if you have convictions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Does the UK ETA Application Ask About Criminal Convictions? Yes. The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation application includes a direct question about your criminal history. Specifically, it asks whether you have ever been convicted of a criminal offence in any country. This is one of the eligibility questions that the UK Home Office uses to assess [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1281,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"UK ETA criminal record","_yoast_wpseo_title":"UK ETA and Criminal Records: Will I Be Refused?","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Will a criminal record stop your UK ETA approval? Learn about the 12-month threshold, minor offences, DUI, and what to do if refused. Honest answers matter.","footnotes":""},"categories":[103,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-problems-and-solutions","category-visa-and-eta"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>UK ETA and Criminal Records: Will I Be Refused?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Will a criminal record stop your UK ETA approval? Learn about the 12-month threshold, minor offences, DUI, and what to do if refused. Honest answers matter.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UK ETA and Criminal Records: Will I Be Refused?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Will a criminal record stop your UK ETA approval? Learn about the 12-month threshold, minor offences, DUI, and what to do if refused. Honest answers matter.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"ETA UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-09T14:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/b3_1036_0.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"James Crawford\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"James Crawford\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"James Crawford\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/270ad6539a31e6e56947d06538bfdef0\"},\"headline\":\"UK ETA and Criminal Records: Will I Be Refused?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-09T14:00:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2002,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/b3_1036_0.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Problems and Solutions\",\"visa and eta\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\\\/\",\"name\":\"UK ETA and Criminal Records: Will I Be Refused?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/b3_1036_0.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-09T14:00:00+00:00\",\"description\":\"Will a criminal record stop your UK ETA approval? Learn about the 12-month threshold, minor offences, DUI, and what to do if refused. Honest answers matter.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/b3_1036_0.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/b3_1036_0.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":800,\"caption\":\"UK ETA and Criminal Records: Will I Be Refused? - courthouse justice building\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/en\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"UK ETA and Criminal Records: Will I Be Refused?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/\",\"name\":\"ETA UK\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"ETA UK\",\"alternateName\":\"ETA Visa UK\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/eta-uk-logo-696.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/eta-uk-logo-696.png\",\"width\":696,\"height\":696,\"caption\":\"ETA UK\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/270ad6539a31e6e56947d06538bfdef0\",\"name\":\"James Crawford\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/wp-content\\\/litespeed\\\/avatar\\\/08f51d033825f5e9f2bfc41aeb266ed2.jpg?ver=1776319924\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/wp-content\\\/litespeed\\\/avatar\\\/08f51d033825f5e9f2bfc41aeb266ed2.jpg?ver=1776319924\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/wp-content\\\/litespeed\\\/avatar\\\/08f51d033825f5e9f2bfc41aeb266ed2.jpg?ver=1776319924\",\"caption\":\"James Crawford\"},\"description\":\"James Crawford is the lead content editor at ETA UK, specialising in UK immigration policy and travel authorisation systems. With extensive experience covering the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, James provides accurate, up-to-date guides to help international travellers navigate UK entry requirements.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/etavisauk.org\\\/en\\\/author\\\/lukass\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"UK ETA and Criminal Records: Will I Be Refused?","description":"Will a criminal record stop your UK ETA approval? Learn about the 12-month threshold, minor offences, DUI, and what to do if refused. Honest answers matter.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"UK ETA and Criminal Records: Will I Be Refused?","og_description":"Will a criminal record stop your UK ETA approval? Learn about the 12-month threshold, minor offences, DUI, and what to do if refused. Honest answers matter.","og_url":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\/","og_site_name":"ETA UK","article_published_time":"2026-04-09T14:00:00+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":800,"url":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/b3_1036_0.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"James Crawford","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"James Crawford","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\/"},"author":{"name":"James Crawford","@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/#\/schema\/person\/270ad6539a31e6e56947d06538bfdef0"},"headline":"UK ETA and Criminal Records: Will I Be Refused?","datePublished":"2026-04-09T14:00:00+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\/"},"wordCount":2002,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/b3_1036_0.jpg","articleSection":["Problems and Solutions","visa and eta"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\/","url":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\/","name":"UK ETA and Criminal Records: Will I Be Refused?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/b3_1036_0.jpg","datePublished":"2026-04-09T14:00:00+00:00","description":"Will a criminal record stop your UK ETA approval? Learn about the 12-month threshold, minor offences, DUI, and what to do if refused. Honest answers matter.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/b3_1036_0.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/b3_1036_0.jpg","width":1200,"height":800,"caption":"UK ETA and Criminal Records: Will I Be Refused? - courthouse justice building"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/uk-eta-criminal-record-convictions-guide\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"UK ETA and Criminal Records: Will I Be Refused?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/","name":"ETA UK","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/#organization","name":"ETA UK","alternateName":"ETA Visa UK","url":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/eta-uk-logo-696.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/eta-uk-logo-696.png","width":696,"height":696,"caption":"ETA UK"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/#\/schema\/person\/270ad6539a31e6e56947d06538bfdef0","name":"James Crawford","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/litespeed\/avatar\/08f51d033825f5e9f2bfc41aeb266ed2.jpg?ver=1776319924","url":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/litespeed\/avatar\/08f51d033825f5e9f2bfc41aeb266ed2.jpg?ver=1776319924","contentUrl":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/wp-content\/litespeed\/avatar\/08f51d033825f5e9f2bfc41aeb266ed2.jpg?ver=1776319924","caption":"James Crawford"},"description":"James Crawford is the lead content editor at ETA UK, specialising in UK immigration policy and travel authorisation systems. With extensive experience covering the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, James provides accurate, up-to-date guides to help international travellers navigate UK entry requirements.","sameAs":["https:\/\/etavisauk.org"],"url":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/author\/lukass\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1036","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1036"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1036\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1468,"href":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1036\/revisions\/1468"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1281"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etavisauk.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}