UK rolling out Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

[luckypierre]

That ETA is about 10 pounds which is really low considering how much of a mess the UK is in. Running for two years unless your passport needs to be renewed. We should get to the UK multiple times using this first ETA.

The cost went up to £16 in April. Which of course is still insignificant , given the cost of travelling.

 

[serfty]

That’s no different to a US ESTA.

I know some airline staff asks for it but they don’t actually need to, the system does it. I’ve never shown my ESTA I’ve just said I’ve got it if they ask.

It is different.

With a US ESTA, you can bring it up online to ensure its validity, etc. and modify some details.

With the UK ETA, there is nothing further you can do once approved. You can't check it online - the only thing you have is the approval email.

 

[Cessna 180]

Reading the application process, eta is not needed if only transferring within the same terminal. I will be in and out of T5 next week. Non Shengen to Shengen.

Has anyone proven this to be the case? I do not particularly wish for any trauma on departure.

May only be 16 pound or whatever, but still pointless if not needed.

 

[jastel]

Was half asleep at SIN recently and gave the staff my Aussie Passport without an ETA for QF1 to LHR...they asked where it was...got out my UK Passport then and all good.

 

[ellen10]

Reading the application process, eta is not needed if only transferring within the same terminal. I will be in and out of T5 next week. Non Shengen to Shengen.

Has anyone proven this to be the case? I do not particularly wish for any trauma on departure.

May only be 16 pound or whatever, but still pointless if not needed.

Interesting.
We have a transit from a Schengen country to a Schengen country. I would be interested to know if this is true.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Interesting.
We have a transit from a Schengen country to a Schengen country. I would be interested to know if this is true.

My understanding is that passengers who remain entirely airside during transit do not require an ETA. But also bear in mind that only applies to two UK airports, Heathrow and Manchester.

 

[clifford]

My understanding is that passengers who remain entirely airside during transit do not require an ETA. But also bear in mind that only applies to two UK airports, Heathrow and Manchester.

It would be interesting if you tried to do it at LGW then. Also, I couldn't imagine that MAN could do it seamlessly either (and I wouldn't try it).

 

[Cessna 180]

My understanding is that passengers who remain entirely airside during transit do not require an ETA. But also bear in mind that only applies to two UK airports, Heathrow and Manchester.

That is my understanding as well. I am only taking this circuitous route on BA to top up my SC to maintain P.
I could have taken a Ryanair for third of the price but that would not be in the spirit of true AFF style.
Had not actually thought about the eta until this thread popped up yesterday.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It would be interesting if you tried to do it at LGW then. Also, I couldn't imagine that MAN could do it seamlessly either (and I wouldn't try it).

the airline would probably require an ETA at check-in, and stop boarding for LGW?

 

[Cessna 180]

So a Question for those LHR regulars: My assumption is in and out of T5 is NOT passing through border control?

You'll need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to pass through UK border control - Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK

www.gov.uk

You do not need an ETA if you will not pass through UK border control. You should bring evidence of your onward journey, such as a ticket to your destination.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So a Question for those LHR regulars: My assumption is in and out of T5 is NOT passing through border control?

You'll need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to pass through UK border control - Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK

www.gov.uk

You do not need an ETA if you will not pass through UK border control. You should bring evidence of your onward journey, such as a ticket to your destination.

correct.

just like hong kong or singapore, etc. you stay in the transit area and don’t ‘enter’ the country.

 

[serfty]

With the UK ETA, there is nothing further you can do once approved. You can't check it online - the only thing you have is the approval email.

The UK have recently introduced a facility to check your ETA validly based on the passport used in the original application.

Check your electronic travel authorisation (ETA)

Check when your electronic travel authorisation (ETA) expires and what to do if you’ve changed your passport or need a new ETA to visit the UK.

www.gov.uk

 

[JessicaTam]

I have just transited LHR T5, on BA Schengen to Schengen. At checkin in WAW I was not asked anything about a UK ETA. Apart from a boarding pass scan for terminal access in T5 there was no other check. A week earlier I did the same thing with QR through T4 on my way from CPT to WAW.

Note: I do have an ETA on my passport and it is possible that everything from CPT and WAW checkin to T4/T5 transiting was clever enough to know that, but I doubt it. So my takeaway is it is not needed to transit airside at LHR, regardless of terminal.

I am going to ‘transit’ landside tomorrow using the egate/First wing (hopefully quicker) so will see what I am asked, if anything.

 

[Zero]

I have just transited LHR T5, on BA Schengen to Schengen. At checkin in WAW I was not asked anything about a UK ETA. Apart from a boarding pass scan for terminal access in T5 there was no other check. A week earlier I did the same thing with QR through T4 on my way from CPT to WAW.

Note: I do have an ETA on my passport and it is possible that everything from CPT and WAW checkin to T4/T5 transiting was clever enough to know that, but I doubt it. So my takeaway is it is not needed to transit airside at LHR, regardless of terminal.

I am going to ‘transit’ landside tomorrow using the egate/First wing (hopefully quicker) so will see what I am asked, if anything.

The UK government isn't enforcing ETAs until 25 Feb 2026