United Kingdom ETA

This is the site to use - don't use any other. https://www.gov.uk/eta

And they recommend using the app, which I also recommend. It's a lot easier. Once you go to the site above, there will be links directing you to the app and so on.

Another reason for getting the ETA: You will need to plan another vacation in the UK and get your money's worth. :)

You do not need an ETA to connect in the United Kingdom.

You do not need an ETA to enter the United Kingdom. It is not a visa.

The ETA is an Electronic Travel Authorisation. It gives you permission to travel to the United Kingdom but does not guarantee you entrance.

If for some reason, you have to enter the UK due to a canceled flight, you will be processed by immigration officials.

The UK is requiring an ETA to weed out as many people as possible who might not be allowed to enter the UK. Rather than go through the hassle of having people travel to the UK and then get refused entry for basic things like previous felony convictions, the ETA will deny them the ability to get on the plane.

That's all it is.

What Frank II says, no reason to get an ETA if you have no plans in the UK. If something happens, you just talk to a person and they let you in. Easy Peasy.

The OP, was pretty clear that he does not have any plans to stay in the UK, but he said that if something happened, he might want or need to and therefore thought that he would go ahead and apply for it. And as Carol said, it might give him some motivation to come back during the next two years. 😊

If you do decide to go back to the UK to stay, you can always apply then. This is not a "one time only" offer.

Thanks, everyone!

Why fork out $27 for something not needed?

Why fork out $27 for something not needed?

Ditto, in the extremely unlikely scenario that you need to leave the terminal, you get one through the app using airport WIFI in 5 minutes.

Mine took 36 hours to be approved. That was last year, so maybe they've worked the kinks out.

If you need to leave the terminal, you get one through the app using airport WIFI in 5 minutes.

And that would be a waste of money.

What is it that people here don't understand? An ETA is not needed to enter the UK. It is needed to travel to the UK. There is a big difference.

If your itinerary has you connecting at Heathrow and find yourself having to enter the UK due to unforseen circumstances, you will be processed by immigration officers. Even if you don't have an ETA.

An ETA does not guarantee you entrance into the UK. It is just authorisation to get on the plane or train or ferry.

They are not going to make you sleep on a bench in the terminal.

What happens if you are flying from Chicago to Rome. Your plane has some mechanical issues and is forced to land in the UK. Should everyone then planning to travel to Europe get an ETA just in case of this scenario?

Mine took 36 hours to be approved. That was last year, so maybe they've worked the kinks out.

I thought the program initiated 9 months ago and none were issued last year?

No, I applied for mine May 14, 2025 and received it May 16, 45 minutes before my flight. Are you thinking of the Schengen one?

I see, you got it because it was scheduled to be in effect during your trip but ultimately the start date was postponed till January 2026. Or were the start dates staggered by country? US citizens started like January 8 this year.

An ETA is not needed to enter the UK. It is needed to travel to the UK. There is a big difference.

There must be not a small number of people who fly to London and have a ticket onward but still want to leave the terminal, maybe because of a long layover or they are skiplagging, bought a ticket to Hamburg because it was cheaper than London and are abandoning the connection. Who knows how immigration treats these people? Are they allowed to bypass the ETA process? Maybe, maybe not.

There must be not a small number of people who fly to London and have a ticket onward but still want to leave the terminal,

If anyone wants to come landslide i.e. formally enter the UK, they will need to get an ETA, whether that is to spend a few hours whilst waiting for a connection or coming for a month.

I refer you to Frank II's earlier post which explained it perfectly

If anyone wants to come landslide i.e. formally enter the UK, they will need to get an ETA, whether that is to spend a few hours whilst waiting for a connection or coming for a month.

No, they don't.

Who knows how immigration treats these people? Are they allowed to bypass the ETA process? Maybe, maybe not.

The ETA process has already passed. It happens at the departing airport, not at immigration