Applying for a UK ETA on Behalf of Someone Else 2026

Yes, you can apply for a UK ETA on behalf of someone else — a parent for a child, an adult child for an elderly relative, or an employer for staff. The official system allows it, but the person helping takes on real responsibility for getting every detail right. This guide explains who can do it, what you need, and the mistakes that lead to a refusal.

TL;DR: Anyone can complete a UK ETA application for another traveller. You need that person’s passport details, a photo of them, a payment card for the £20 fee and an email address. Each applicant needs a separate form and fee, and the information must match their passport exactly. Children usually have a parent or guardian apply for them.

Can you apply for a UK ETA on behalf of someone else?

Yes. The UK ETA scheme lets a third person complete the form, so a daughter can sort her father’s authorisation or a company can arrange one for a visiting colleague. There is no rule that each traveller must click the buttons themselves. What matters is that the answers are true and match the passport being used, because the traveller — not the helper — carries the consequences of a mistake.

This flexibility is official: GOV.UK states that you can apply for other people, which helps older travellers, children and busy professionals who need a hand with online forms (GOV.UK ETA guidance, checked 28 August 2026). If you are helping a relative for the first time, our step-by-step Vodič za prijavu za ETA za UK walks through every screen so nothing is missed.

Who commonly applies for another person?

Most third-party applications come from four groups: parents applying for their children, adult children helping older parents through the form, employers arranging trips for staff, and travel agents handling authorisations for their clients. Each situation is allowed under the scheme, and each follows the same route. The only real difference is who holds the passport and who receives the approval email at the end.

Families are the biggest group by far. Every child needs their own authorisation, and a parent or guardian usually applies on their behalf (GOV.UK ETA eligibility, checked 28 August 2026) — see our UK family travel checklist. For workplaces, an office manager might process ten separate forms for a conference trip, paying £200 in total. Whatever the reason, confirm first that the traveller actually needs an ETA using our eligible countries guide.

Helping an older relative and worried about getting it wrong? We can complete and double-check the whole application for them. You can also apply directly on gov.uk for £20 — whichever gives you more peace of mind.

How to apply for someone else: step by step

The process mirrors a normal application, with one key choice: use the app if the person is with you and you have their physical passport to scan, or use the website if they are not with you. The app reads the passport chip in seconds, while the website lets you type the information manually and upload a photo. Both end with the same £20 payment.

1. Gather their documents. You need the traveller’s passport and a clear photo of their face.
2. Pick your route. Koristite official GOV.UK service — the app to scan the chip, or the website to enter details.
3. Enter their information exactly. Names, dates and passport numbers must match the document, not your own.
4. Answer the suitability questions. These ask about the traveller’s history, so check the answers with them.
5. Pay the £20 fee. Any debit or credit card works, including yours on their behalf.
6. Choose the email carefully. The decision lands in whatever inbox you enter, so use one you both can reach.

Getting the photo right saves a rejection, so read our Vodič za fotografske zahtjeve ETA-e before you upload. Once submitted, see what to expect while you wait in the application status check guide.

What information do you need from the traveller?

To apply for another person you need four things from them: the passport they will travel on, a clear face photo, honest answers to the suitability questions, and an email address for the result. You do not need bank statements, flight bookings or hotel details, because the ETA is a light pre-screening check rather than a full visa assessment.

Accuracy is everything when you fill in a form for another person. A single typo in a passport number can delay the decision or lead to a rejection, and a submitted form cannot be corrected – only replaced by a new paid application. Because the ETA ties to one document, a later passport renewal means starting again. Cross-check each field against the passport, which you can renew if needed via the GOV.UK passport service, and against our Popis dokumenata za putovanje u UK before you pay.

Responsibility, consent and honest answers

When you apply for someone else, any wrong answer affects the traveller, not the helper, so you should never submit answers on their account without their knowledge or clear consent. Talk through the suitability questions together, especially anything about past immigration or criminal history, because a wrong answer given on their behalf can still lead to a refusal that affects them.

Savjet: Read the criminal-history questions aloud to the person you are helping and record their exact answers. A son who guessed “no” on his mother’s behalf, without asking, caused a delay that a two-minute conversation would have avoided.

Consent also protects you. Keep it simple: confirm the details, get a clear yes, then submit. If a past issue might complicate things, our guide on choosing between an ETA and a visa helps you judge whether a full application is safer.

Costs and common mistakes when applying for others

Every traveller you help costs a separate £20, and the fee is non-refundable, so the two most expensive errors are paying twice by mistake or entering the wrong passport details. A family of five means five forms and £100, with no discount for doing them together. Slow down on each one and the money is well spent.

• Do not merge people: There is no group form — each traveller gets their own, as our family travel checklist explains.
• Avoid copycat sites: Only vlada.uk charges the real £20 — read our vodiči za lažne web-stranice.
• Match the passport: Enter their name as printed, not a nickname or your own.
• Mind the fee history: The charge rose to £20 in April 2026 — see the vodiči o naknadama za 2026. i raščlamba troškova.

Helping someone with their authorisation is straightforward once you have their passport and a few minutes. Take the questions seriously, keep proof of what you submitted, and the trip stays on track.

Rather not risk a mistake on a relative’s application? Our team can prepare and review it for you, then explain exactly what was submitted. We are an independent assistance service, and the official £20 route on gov.uk is always open to you.

Frequently asked questions about applying for a UK ETA for someone else

Can I apply for a UK ETA on behalf of my elderly parent?

Yes. You can complete the whole form for a parent, using their passport and photo. Check the suitability answers with them, and send the approval to an inbox you both can reach.

Do I need the person’s physical passport to apply?

Not always. The app scans the passport chip and needs both the document and the person with you, but the website lets you type the details manually if you only have a photo or scan of the passport.

Can one application cover a whole family?

No. Every traveller needs a separate form and a separate £20 fee, including babies and children. There is no group or family application and no bulk discount.

Who is responsible if I make a mistake on someone’s application?

The application is in the traveller’s name, so a mistake can lead to a refusal that affects them. Always confirm each answer with the person before you submit.

Can an employer or travel agent apply for clients?

Yes. Employers and agents can arrange authorisations for staff or clients, submitting one form per person. Each still costs £20 and links to that individual’s passport.

Whose email should I use on the application?

Use an email address that you or the traveller can access, because the decision is sent there. Many helpers use their own inbox and forward the result to the traveller.

What happens if the traveller renews their passport later?

The authorisation is tied to one passport, so a renewal voids it. You would need to apply again and pay £20 with the new passport before they travel.

In short, applying for a UK ETA for someone else is fully allowed and often the kindest thing you can do for a relative who finds online forms daunting. Use the official gov.uk usluga, match every detail to their passport, and their trip to Britain starts with the paperwork already sorted.

Zadnja ažuriranja: Kolovoz 2026 — potvrđeno prema trenutnim smjernicama UK ETA na gov.uk.

Odricanje odgovornosti: Mi smo neovisna služba pomoći pri putnoj dokumentaciji i nismo dio britanske vlade. Možete se prijaviti izravno na gov.uk za £20, ili koristiti našu provjerenu aplikacijsku uslugu s podrškom.