From 9 April 2026, the guidance on using the 'UK ETA' app covers applying for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to travel to Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, as well as the UK.
Key facts
- Who: People applying for an ETA through the 'UK ETA' app, including those applying for someone else who is with them
- From: 9 April 2026
- Source: Using the 'UK ETA' app
The government guidance on using the 'UK ETA' app gives information on using the app to apply for an ETA "to travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man". It also says the passport photographed in the app must be the one the applicant will use to travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.
Before applying, applicants need the original passport they will travel with (not a photocopy or digital passport), an email address, and a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The app is available only in English.
Phone requirements are:
- iPhone: iPhone 7 or newer, iOS 16 or later, at least 179MB of storage.
- Android: Android 12 or later, at least 165MB of storage, and NFC so the app can scan the passport.
The application involves a photo of the passport photo page, a passport chip scan, a face scan and a face photo. Applicants then answer questions about their address, job, any other nationalities and any criminal convictions. Applicants under 18 must give contact details for someone with parental responsibility. Face scans are required for anyone aged 10 or older, but not for a child aged 9 or younger.
Payment is made in the app, which shows the price in the local currency for the applicant's country.
A decision usually arrives by email within a day but can take up to 3 working days. The email contains a 16-digit ETA reference number. The ETA is linked digitally to the passport, so nothing else is needed to show it. There is no refund after applying. If an application is rejected, or details need changing, a new application is required.
What this means for applicants
Anyone applying for an ETA to travel to Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man can use the 'UK ETA' app, which the guidance now covers for those destinations. The passport used in the application must be the one they will travel with. Details the app takes from the passport photo must match the passport, or the application will be delayed or rejected.
The guidance says applicants must wait until they receive an email confirming they have an ETA before they travel to the UK.
The app can be used to apply for someone else only if that person is with the applicant. To apply for someone who is not with them, the applicant must apply online. Applicants who have problems using the app can also apply online instead.
Related guide
UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme