ETA question

Why not get the ETA now and put your mind at ease?

I would not wait to purchase tickets if you find a good price. With no criminal history, and assuming you never overstayed in the UK, the process for the ETA is nearly automatic.

But as the previous poster said, no harm in just completing the ETA now, it is good for two years.

There's no reason why you shouldn't have your ETA approved - it's not a visa, and it is a very simple process. Personally I'd buy the tickets first, but it doesn't make much difference.

As stated, if you don't have a criminal record or have had trouble with immigration in the UK, or really anywhere, there shouldn't be a problem.

I got my approval in about 30 seconds.

I agree with joe. Just get the ETAs now. Then you will have one less thing to worry about.

The ETA is good for two years from the date of approval or starting Jan. 8 is you apply before that date.

Wonder if the OP got the ETA’s by now, and maybe the plane tickets, too? For anyone reading this before April 9, 2025, the price for applying for an ETA is going up by 60% on the 9th, so save yourself some money and apply for yours today or tomorrow. I got mine yesterday; applied in the afternoon and got the approval e-mail a few hours later.

That’s what I did as well yesterday. It’s this forum that clued me in to the price increase on April 9, otherwise I would have paid 12 pounds more (for two of them). Not traveling till late May so a few weeks of otherwise unnecessary ETA time but good to get it done. The app worked well (once I figured out that it’s the top of the phone, not the front or back, that needs to be looking for that chip in the back cover of the passport, where it’s about one third of the way down, so you do need to take the phone out of its protective case if you have one), and also got the approvals within a few hours.

Just a reminder. The ETA is attached to your passport number. Do not apply for the ETA if you will be traveling on a new passport with a new number.