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

Last updated: 19 October 2026

A UK ETA stays valid for two years from the date it is granted, or until the passport you applied with expires — whichever is sooner — and allows unlimited trips of up to six months each. 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 day the application is decided — not from when you first travel. This means you can apply well in advance and the 24-month clock starts immediately on approval. One important exception: if your passport lapses before those two years are 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, receive a replacement after a name change, or obtain a second passport — you must obtain a fresh UK ETA before travelling. See our guide on checking passport validity.

Unlimited Entries During the Validity Period

Within that 24-month window, your UK ETA permits unlimited trips to the United Kingdom. There’s no cap on how many times you can enter the UK per year. However, each individual stay is limited to a maximum of six months. You can return after leaving, but each entry is assessed separately, and Border Force may ask about your plans to check that your visit is genuinely temporary.

This makes the authorisation 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 GOV.UK ‘Check your ETA’ service — visit gov.uk/check-eta and enter the details of the passport you applied with to see whether you have an ETA and when it expires.
2. Check your approval email — the decision email contains your 16-digit ETA reference number, so keep it safe.
3. Contact the Home Office — if you cannot find your ETA reference number, use the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) webchat; UKVI cannot help with ETA enquiries by phone.

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

Reapplying When Validity Expires

1. Go to gov.uk/eta
2. Complete a fresh application with your current passport number
3. Upload a new face photograph
4. Pay the £20 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 three months before it expires.
• Check your passport expiry date too — your ETA expires when your passport expires, even if those 24 months have not elapsed.
• 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 getting a fresh 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 day it is approved — not when you first enter the UK.

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

If I haven’t used my ETA, does it still expire?
Yes. Your ETA’s clock 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. Since April 2026 it also covers Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

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.

How can I check if my UK ETA is still valid?
Use the GOV.UK ‘Check your ETA’ service at gov.uk/check-eta with the passport you applied with. It shows whether you have an ETA and when it expires. Checking is free.

Do I have to leave the UK if my ETA expires during my stay?
No. An ETA is permission to travel, not permission to stay. It must be valid when you arrive; you will need a new ETA before your next trip.

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 the passport itself lapses sooner, in which case the ETA dies with it. There is no way to transfer an ETA to a new passport, no matter how recently you obtained the authorisation. Replace that passport and 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 decision email: it contains your 16-digit ETA reference number. Your ETA lasts two years from the date it was granted, or until your passport expires if that is sooner. 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 fresh passport: apply again before travelling.

Renewal Strategy for Frequent Visitors

There’s 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.