Careful Everyone - I thought I had been scammed. I did a google search for UK ETA Visa. Did NOT look carefully enough to find official government site (GOV.UK). What came up above it on the search was ETASTravel. I begin (too quickly) the process to apply and did an application for my husband. Because I failed to see how much I was being charged ($99), I submitted these two applications. But at that point, I saw that the bank charge was $99 - and it should have been 10 pounds ($13.00+).
I felt I had been scammed, but perhaps I just had been stupid to use a third-party site to submit. Searching Goggle for such a scam, I found a Washington Post article that there were "scammers" up within one month of this process opening up and a statement that the UK doesn't use third-party companies.
Fortunately, I immediately responded to an email address that was part of the "Confirming Your Application" email I received from ETASTravel. When I reached out to them, they asked if I wanted to proceed with the processing and I said NO. Within hours, reviewing our charge card statement, I saw that the original two processing fees of $99 had been removed. SO - this may have been a legitimate company as they were responsive and honored my direction.
We applied on the GOV.UK site yesterday using their online application. It didn't take long (you need a scan of the passport information page AND a recent photo from mid-trunk up (not a passport shot). You need to upload them. The process is easy and I received an immediately acceptance and my husband received his a few hours later. They do ask that you scan your face using your computer camera. I was able to do that, but for some reason my husband couldn't - perhaps that is why his issuance took a few hours longer. They do indicate that if you do NOT scan, it will not affect whether a VISA is issued. All good.....now.
Posted by
Singapore
690 posts
To clarify, if you have a UK visa, you don't need an ETA:
An ETA is not a visa ,- it's for people who don't have a visa, bur come from visa-waiver countries.
Posted by
OP
19 posts
Thanks Simon for the clarification. Yes, I do understand that it isn't technically a VISA, just operates and feels like one for me. I should have stated ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization). SORRY folks for any confusion.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5604 posts
SO - this may have been a legitimate company as they were responsive and honored my direction.
They are legitimate companies, they simply do the work for you and charge you for it. Wholly unnecessary and some may claim morally bankrupt as they operate solely on the basis of people not doing their homework. They're working within the law hence why they refunded your money so they're not scammers. There are similar sites for the US ESTA and no doubt there will be ones for the European ETIAS once it's up and running.
Posted by
13 posts
Marnamc2,
Thanks for your post since I will also need to apply for the ETA.
I do have a question. What do you mean by "They do ask that you scan your face using your computer camera."? Do you mean uploading a picture you have of yourself in your computer or cell phone?
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
9092 posts
If you are using your cell phone the app scans your face using your camera. Correct app is UK ETA and has a logo of a crown.
Posted by
OP
19 posts
This should be the link on the Gov.UK site for guidance and information on ETA
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta
We did NOT use our cell phone to apply using the app as I cell phones were too old and did not meet the requirements. So YES, I used my computer and it did scan my face (easy). It also required me to upload a photo (from mid-trunk up) AND a photo of my information from the passport. For some reason, when my husband applied, he wasn't able to have his face scanned. The directions clearly said if it didn't scan, that would NOT be a reason to reject the application. My husband's application took about 8 hours before it came through so perhaps that is why. Mine came through immediately. I hope this is helpful. IF you can use your phone, maybe that is easier, I don't know.
Posted by
Duluth 🛶
8693 posts
I do have a question. What do you mean by "They do ask that you scan your face using your computer camera."? Do you mean uploading a picture you have of yourself in your computer or cell phone?
It means that during the application process, you will be asked to take a "biometric" scan. To do so, you just scan your face with your phone camera, which will then be reviewed by the app. It's very easy and the app will walk you through the steps.
Posted by
9 posts
The wife and I just completed ETAs for our September 2025 Best of London trip. We reviewed a YouTube video beforehand which somewhat helpful in anticipating the process. The only pain was attempting to scan the little chip on the front of our US passports (apparently not all passports have this chip and you can skip the scan step if yours doesn't). Not sure why, but the app couldn't scan our chips. After our third scan attempt (provided in the app without having to start over from scratch), we were offered a "Skip" button to move on, which we did with no further hiccups. Approximately 10 minutes after completion, a follow up email confirmed were good to go.
Posted by
Central US
158 posts
What do you mean by "They do ask that you scan your face using your computer camera."
Thank you @Carolnowretired and @Mardee for answering this question. I was wondering the same thing, and couldn’t get a good answer - thank you for the clear answer! :)
Posted by
Washington DC
28851 posts
Others have reported that on US passports the chip is inside the back cover, not the front cover.
Posted by
San Francisco area
1941 posts
The US has been issuing passports with the embedded chip since 2007. At this point all valid passports should have one. You can check the front cover. Towards the bottom there’s a little symbol that looks sort of like a camera. Regarding scanning the chip I have seen suggestions to take any cases off your phone and to move slowly to find it.
Edit. Note that the symbol is on the front cover. The actual chip maybe elsewhere possibly inside the back cover
Posted by
OP
19 posts
We used our computer, and not the phone so there may be a difference. We took a picture only of the one information page in our passport, and a picture (headshot) from mid-trunk and above. Because we used our computer, we had these photos in our files and then pulled them in during the application process.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2915 posts
Based on my experience today using the app, as noted above the chip on US passports is inside the back cover. But to scan it well, at least with my phone, it required taking the case off my phone. Take your phone cover off before you start the process so you don't have to fiddle with it in progress, and make sure the phone and passport are in full contact - you might have to move it around a bit. Once the app detects the chip, DON'T MOVE THE PHONE until it's done reading it (there is a progress bar that moves so you can see how far it is in progress). Once I stayed still it worked fine.
Also, as I was trying to repeat the process for my niece (my travel companion), the app kept giving me an error (I use Android phone with version 15 iOS). After several tries I suspected it was because I was putting in my email and phone number, so once I used a different address it went better. In hindsight it also might be because I didn't choose the "apply for someone else" link at the very front of the app.
Anyway, we were both approved within 3 minutes, $13.16 at current exchange rate.
Posted by
Paris
10511 posts
The chip is in the back cover
The symbol noting that your passport has a chip is on the front cover (i.e., the front only has the symbol for the chip, not the chip itself)
Posted by
2 posts
Similar to marnamc2, I did not look that carefully and was too quick. Ended up at same site (ETASTravel) through google and didn't stop in time to cancel the application.
Was charged $99. My fault for being sloppy.
Question for the group. The ETA # that you received from the UK is 16 numbers (xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx). What I received from my ETASTravel ETA. Want to make sure it's legitimate. I never did get anything officially from the UK Gov.
Thanks
Posted by
OP
19 posts
Hi SP917! Yes - it is 16 digits and the same format.
Posted by
2 posts
Thank you.
Posted by
Sapulpa, OK, USA
6656 posts
marnamac2 used photos already their computer; could we use our most recent passport photos, which we have on our laptop? Just curious.
Posted by
OP
19 posts
Probably not - they require a photo but want it LOWER than shoulder shot. You can start an application and see what they require....we took new photos with our phones, then put them on computer to upload to the application. The process tells you immediately if they comply.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2915 posts
RE: photos, it is definitely not passport photo closeup. If I were applying online, I would take a couple of photos that are mid-chest up, then crop if needed. Take in a well lit area and have a neutral background (white or cream wall).
And Kim sorry if I was confusing in my statement. You are correct USA passport chips are embedded in the back cover, but the front cover says whether you have a chip. While applying using the app, it asks if you have a chip and shows you the symbol to look for. As noted, taking off your phone cover and making sure you have NFC enabled on the phone before you start the process will help the reading of the chip go more smoothly.