A UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a new digital permission for short-stay visitors (non-visa nationals) to enter the UK. It is linked directly to your passport digitally. Most decisions arrive within minutes. A proper UK ETA status check ensures you stay informed throughout the approval process.
The UK government processes ETAs quickly. You can monitor your UK ETA application status through two different methods: the UK ETA app and the gov.uk website. You’ll receive an email from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) with your decision. This email contains your 16-digit reference number.
Image Source: Unsplash
How to Check Your UK ETA Status?
You have two primary ways to verify your UK ETA tracking progress. Knowing how to check UK ETA status helps you stay informed about your application.
- Check Your Email Inbox: UKVI sends decision emails directly to the address you provided during application. These emails arrive from the official UK Visas and Immigration system. Check your spam and junk folders carefully.
- Open the UK ETA App: If you applied through the mobile app, open it to check the status. Your application record appears inside with the current status. The app shows whether your permission is granted, pending, or under review.
How Long Does the UK ETA Take?
Most UK ETA applications get decided quickly, often within minutes of submission. The system works fast when your passport details are clear, and everything checks out against government records.
However, the official processing window is up to 3 working days. This timeline covers applications that need a closer look from immigration officers. Your application might get flagged for manual review if certain information requires verification or if the automated checks can’t complete the process on their own.
Breakdown of UK ETA Processing Timeline
- Instant Decisions: The majority of applications sail through automatically because all identity checks and security screenings pass without issue. You could have your ETA approved in under a minute.
- Manual Review Required: A smaller number of applications are sent to UKVI officers for human review. This happens when the system needs additional verification or when specific declarations trigger extra scrutiny. These cases can take the full 3 working days.
- What Counts as Working Days: Only Monday through Friday count, and UK bank holidays don’t count either. So if you submit your application Friday night, your three-day window doesn’t end until Wednesday.
Time Your Application
Don’t cut it close. Submit your application at least 3 working days before you’re supposed to fly, ideally longer if you’re traveling during busy holiday periods when application volumes spike. The last thing you want is to be stuck waiting for approval while your flight takes off without you.
What Do ETA Decision Emails Look Like?
UKVI decision emails have specific details you should recognize when checking your UK ETA application status.
- Subject Line: The email comes from UK Visas and Immigration with “Electronic Travel Authorization” in the subject.
- Reference Number: Your 16-digit ETA reference number appears prominently. Save this number.
- Decision Statement: The email clearly states “granted,” “pending review,” or “refused.” Granted means you can travel. “Pending” means your application needs more time. “Refused” means you need to apply for a visa instead.
- Passport Link Confirmation: The email confirms which passport number your ETA connects to. You must travel with this exact passport.
- Validity Period: Your ETA lasts 2 years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
Please remember to save this email. While you don’t need to print it for travel, airlines verify your permission electronically through your passport.
Also Read: UK ETA Eligibility- Who Can Apply in 2026
Common Reasons for Delays
Several factors can extend your UK ETA processing status beyond the usual minutes. If you have a premeditated idea about these, it will help you plan your application timing better. Although most ETAs are processed automatically, certain situations require manual officer review.
Too Many Applications
Peak travel periods see higher application volumes. Holiday seasons, summer months, and major events create backlogs. UKVI’s automated system handles most applications instantly, but manual reviews take longer during busy times.
Extra Verification Checks
Your application moves to manual review when automated checks cannot verify your identity. This happens with passport photos that don’t meet requirements or when passport chip data doesn’t scan properly.
Past immigration issues trigger manual reviews. Previous visa refusals, overstays, or border problems require officer assessment. Declared criminal convictions need verification. You must answer suitability questions honestly. Officers review these declarations individually.
Incorrect Details
Name mismatches between your application and passport cause delays. Enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport’s biographical page.
Wrong passport numbers or expiry dates trigger verification failures. The system cannot link your ETA to the wrong passport. Birth date errors require correction through manual review. Double-check all dates before submitting.
Photo Issues
Your passport photo upload must be sharp and clear. Blurry images or glare on the passport page prevent automated scanning.
Selfie photos need good lighting. Dark photos, shadows on your face, or cropped edges fail automated checks. Use a plain light background with your full head and shoulders visible. Glasses with glare or tinted lenses cause problems. Remove glasses or ensure no reflection appears in your photo.
Also Read: UK ETA Photo Requirements 2026
System Delays
Technical issues occasionally affect the UKVI system. Server maintenance or unexpected outages can pause processing temporarily. Multiple applications submitted simultaneously might be processed at different rates. Family members applying together often receive decisions at different times.
Must Read: UK ETA Rejection Reasons
What to Do if Your Status is Not Updating
If 3 working days pass without a decision, take these steps. Your UK ETA tracking might show your application stuck in manual review or experiencing technical delays. Contact UKVI support after the official processing window expires.
Check Email Inbox and Spam
Search your entire email account for messages from UKVI. Decision emails sometimes arrive in spam folders despite being official government communications.
Search for “UK Visas and Immigration” and “Electronic Travel Authorisation” in your email. Check the promotions folders if you use Gmail. Some email providers delay incoming messages. Log out and log back into your email account to force a refresh.
Recheck Your Details
Verify you used the correct email address during the application. Typos in your email prevent you from receiving decisions. Check if your email account has storage space available. Full inboxes reject incoming messages.
Confirm you didn’t accidentally block government email domains. Add @homeoffice.gov.uk to your safe sender list.
Try Logging in Again
Close and reopen the UK ETA app. Sometimes the app needs a fresh start to display updated information. Check for app updates in your device’s app store. Outdated versions may not show the current status correctly.
Delete the app and reinstall it if necessary. Your application remains in the UKVI system regardless of the app status on your device.
Contact ETA support
Use the official UKVI ETA webchat service after 3 working days without a decision. Visit the webchat page and select “start now.” The digital assistant asks preliminary questions. Request to chat with an ETA adviser during UK business hours if the automated system cannot help.
Provide your 16-digit reference number if you received one after submitting. Include your passport number and application date. UKVI operates Monday through Friday during UK business hours. Account for the time difference from your location.
Must Read: UK ETA Processing Time
Tips to Get Faster Status Updates
Follow these practices to avoid delays and get quick approval on your UK ETA status check online.
Double-Check Your Application Details
Review every field before submitting. Compare your passport page directly against your entered information. Name spelling, passport number, birth date, and expiry date must match perfectly.
Use the exact spelling from your passport’s machine-readable zone. Don’t “correct” auto-filled information from the chip scan.
Keep Your Email Active and Accessible
Use an email address you check regularly. Don’t use temporary or work email addresses that you might lose access to. Add UKVI email addresses to your contacts before applying. This prevents decision emails from landing in spam. Enable email notifications on your phone. You’ll know immediately when your decision arrives.
Apply Early to Avoid Delays
Submit your ETA application weeks before travel, not days. This gives you time to resolve any issues that arise. Avoid applying on Friday evenings or before UK bank holidays. Your 3-working-day window doesn’t start until the next business day.
Peak travel seasons need extra buffer time, so you can apply 1-2 weeks ahead during summer holidays, Christmas, and Easter.
Don’t Refresh the Status Page Repeatedly
The system updates automatically. Constantly refreshing the app or checking email won’t speed up processing. UKVI’s automated system works continuously. Your application sits in the queue regardless of how often you check.
Focus on preparing other travel documents while waiting. Compile your accommodation bookings, return tickets, and travel insurance.
Before You Travel to the UK
Prepare properly once your ETA receives approval. Your journey to the UK depends on having the right documents organized and accessible. Matching your passport correctly and saving key information prevents last-minute complications at check-in.
How to Confirm Your ETA is Approved
Your UKVI decision email states “granted” clearly. Read the entire email to confirm approval status. Open the UK ETA app and verify your application shows as granted. Both sources should confirm the same status. Note your ETA’s expiry date. It lasts 2 years from approval or until your passport expires.
What to Download or Save Before Flying
- Save your decision email to your phone’s files.
- Screenshot the approval message for quick access.
- Write down your 16-digit ETA reference number. Keep this number in multiple locations.
- Download your boarding pass once check-in opens. Airlines verify your ETA automatically when you check in.
- Print your travel itinerary. This includes flight bookings, hotel reservations, and return tickets.
Passport Details Must Match ETA Details
Travel with the same passport you used for your ETA application. The ETA links electronically to this specific passport number.
Getting a new passport requires a new ETA application. Your old ETA won’t work with a different passport, even if it hasn’t expired. Dual citizens must use the passport that matches their ETA. Switching passports at departure causes boarding problems.
What to Show at the Airport (if Needed)
Airlines check your ETA status automatically through the Advance Passenger Information systems. You don’t need to show printed ETA documents during check-in. Carry your passport that matches your ETA. This is the only document required.
Keep your decision email accessible on your phone in case technical issues occur. Airlines can reference your 16-digit ETA number manually. Have your travel documents ready: return tickets, hotel bookings, and travel insurance. Border officers might ask about your visit plans.
Also Read: ETA for UK Visa Explained: Who Needs It, How to Apply, and Key Details
FAQs
How do I check my UK ETA status online?
There is no public website tracker for UK ETA applications. You must check your email inbox for the decision message from UKVI. If you applied through the UK ETA app, open the app to see your UK ETA application status.
What details do I need to check the status?
You need access to the email address you provided during the application. If checking through the app, you need the phone you used to submit. Your 16-digit reference number helps when contacting UKVI support after 3 working days.
Can I check my ETA status without a reference number?
Yes. Your decision email from UKVI arrives regardless of whether you saved your reference number. Check your inbox and spam folders. The UK ETA app also displays your status if you applied through it. Your reference number appears in these places once your decision arrives.
How long does it take for the status to update?
Most applications receive decisions within minutes. UKVI’s automated system processes straightforward applications immediately. Applications needing manual review can take up to 3 working days. Your UK ETA processing status updates appear in real-time once UKVI makes a decision.
Why is my ETA status still showing pending?
When the pending status is showing, it means your application needs manual review by an immigration officer. Some of the common reasons for this are photo quality issues, identity verification needs, or a declared criminal history. You should also wait for the full 3 working days before contacting UKVI.
How often should I check my ETA status?
You should check your email once daily. Constantly refreshing your inbox won’t speed up processing. The system sends your decision automatically once complete. If 3 working days pass, use the UKVI webchat for updates rather than checking repeatedly.
Can I check my status using only my passport number?
No. The UK ETA system doesn’t offer status lookup by passport number alone. You must access the email you provided during the application or use the UK ETA app on the device you applied with. Your passport number alone cannot retrieve status information.
Will I get a message if my application is approved?
Yes. UKVI sends an approval email to the address you provided during the application. This email contains your 16-digit reference number and confirms your ETA has been granted. The UK ETA app also updates to show approved status.
