The official website for applying for a UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is currently down. However, travelers can still use the mobile app “UK ETA” to submit their travel authorization requests. [UPDATE: After an interruption of several hours, the United Kingdom ETA portal is once again accessible to travelers wishing to apply online]
🔄 Update: The ETA website is now back online and functional.
Travelers who are visa-exempt for the UK and are attempting to access the official UK government website to apply for an ETA are currently being met with an error page.
The message simply states that the service is temporarily unavailable: “Sorry, the service is unavailable. You will be able to use the service later.”
No additional information has been provided regarding the cause of the “outage” or how long it will last. As of now, the UK Home Office has not issued any official statement regarding the disruption.
“UK ETA” mobile app still functional
Despite the website being down, travelers can still complete their ETA application using the official mobile app, “UK ETA,” which is available on both iOS and Android.
The app allows users to complete the entire process, including uploading a passport and photo, collecting passport details, and paying the ETA fee online.
At the moment, the mobile app is the only fully functional option for eligible travelers to obtain the travel authorization required to enter the United Kingdom.
What is the UK ETA?
The ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) is a digital travel permit introduced by the UK government as part of its post-Brexit border control measures. Rolled out gradually starting in October 2023, the ETA is now mandatory for citizens of 87 visa-exempt countries and territories who wish to enter the UK for short stays (up to 6 months for tourism, business, or transit purposes).
The ETA costs £16 per person. Applications can be completed in just a few minutes either via the official website (when available) or the “UK ETA” mobile app. Applicants need a recent passport-style photo and a valid biometric passport. Most decisions are made within 72 hours, although approval can come sooner.
Once approved, the ETA is valid for two years or until the passport used during the application expires—whichever comes first. During this period, travelers may enter the UK multiple times, as long as each visit complies with the short-stay requirements.
