Apply for travel authorisation
Use the official service and get approval before departure.
Prepare your application
Apply through GOV.UK or the official UK ETA app. If the person you are applying for is not with you, use the online service.
Submit through the official channel
Use the official GOV.UK ETA service. Check the current instructions and total government charges before paying.
Review the decision before departure
Check the passport details, dates and entry conditions on the permission you receive.
Check your stay and passport validity
Enter your arrival and departure dates to count your stay and check how long your passport must stay valid.
Travel preparation checklist
Check each item’s requirement level and the conditions that apply.
Your circumstances may require additional documents. Ticks track preparation, not eligibility or admission.
Fees, processing time, and permission validity
Plan your budget and travel dates with the published fees and timing guidance.
What it costs
- Non-refundable application fee
- GBP 20
Published government charges. Check the official service for the final total before you pay.
1–3 working days
Usually within a day; allow up to three working days. Check your email and wait for approval before traveling.
A processing estimate is not a guaranteed travel date.
2 years
Or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
Validity is separate from how long you can stay on each visit.
Entry conditions and exceptions
Check whether these rules affect your eligibility, application, or arrival.
No UK landing card is required
Keep your passport and travel documents ready; Border Force may check them and ask why you are visiting. If arriving from Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you only need to show documents if stopped. At airports and rail ports, eGate use depends on your passport, age and immigration status.
Official guidanceOne ETA can cover multiple trips; a new passport needs a new ETA
An ETA allows multiple trips while valid and is linked to the passport used to apply. If you renew your passport, you need a new ETA.
Official guidanceCheck whether you already have permission
British or Irish passport holders and people with UK permission to live, work or study may not need an ETA. Check before paying.
Official guidanceEvery traveler, including a child, needs their own ETA
Each traveler needs a separate ETA, including babies and children. You can apply for someone else in the app if they are with you; apply online if they are not.
Official guidanceAn ETA does not guarantee UK entry
An ETA authorises travel but does not guarantee you will be allowed to enter the UK. It cannot be used to live in the UK through frequent or successive visits.
Official guidanceUse the official UK ETA service
Apply through GOV.UK or the official UK ETA app. GOV.UK says another website or app cannot get a faster decision; wait for the approval email before travelling.
Official guidanceUK airport transit requires an ETA if you pass border control
If your UK airport connection requires you to pass through border control, you need an ETA. Ask your airline if you are unsure whether your connection passes through border control.
Official guidanceBefore and during your visit to United Kingdom
Plan a genuine short visit
Visitors must come for a permitted activity, intend to leave at the end of the visit and avoid using repeated or successive visits to live in the UK. These visitor conditions still apply when your nationality does not require a visa.
Follow the visitor work limits
Standard Visitors cannot do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, except for specified permitted paid engagements. Visitors also cannot claim public funds or use repeated trips to live in the UK.
United Kingdom travel essentials
- Capital
- London
- Currency
- GBP
- Calling code
- +44
United Kingdom entry questions
Do French citizens need a visa for United Kingdom?
For tourism in United Kingdom, ordinary passport holders from France need electronic travel authorisation before travel. The stay limit is up to 6 months.
How long can I stay in United Kingdom?
The short-visit limit is up to 6 months. Your actual permission can be shorter; check the dates and conditions you receive.
How much passport validity do I need?
Valid for your entire stay.
How much is the government fee?
Non-refundable application fee: GBP 20 per person.
How long does a decision take?
1–3 working days. Usually within a day; allow up to three working days. Check your email and wait for approval before traveling.
How long is the authorisation valid?
2 years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. This is different from the permitted length of each visit.
What if I’m going to work, study or stay longer?
This guide is for a short tourist visit on an ordinary passport. It does not establish eligibility for employment, study or residence. Use the destination’s official guidance for your actual purpose.
Does my country of residence change the answer?
Passport nationality and legal residence are different. This page starts with your passport. Residence can change where you apply and which application channel is available; an existing visa or residence permit may also create an exception. Check the official eligibility guidance for your circumstances.
Official visa and entry guidance
Confirm United Kingdom’s requirements directly with government authorities.
Open the official GOV.UK ETA service
Apply through GOV.UK or the official UK ETA app. If the person you are applying for is not with you, use the online service.
Check ETA eligibility
Nationality, existing permission and transit exceptions.
Check UK visitor conditions
Allowed activities and whether you need a different visa.
Who this guide covers
Short tourist visits to United Kingdom with an ordinary France passport. Residence, travel documents, and purpose can affect the rules. Confirm the official guidance before travel; border authorities decide admission and your permitted stay.
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