UK ETA for children and families

Does my child need an ETA?

Yes, if they're travelling on a passport from an eligible country. There's no age limit, so a newborn on their first trip needs an ETA just as an adult does. There's no family ETA either: each person has their own, linked to their own passport.

The fee is the same for everyone, £20 per person, so a family of four pays it four times.

The exemptions are the same as for adults. Children who are British or Irish citizens, or who already have a UK visa or permission to live in the UK, don't need one.

Who can apply for a child

Usually a parent or guardian, but anyone can apply on someone else's behalf, including another family member, a travel agent or an assisted application service. Whoever fills in the form, the application is about the child: it uses the child's passport, the child's photo and answers about the child.

Give an email address that a parent checks, because the decision is sent there. Keep each child's decision email somewhere you can find it before the trip.

Photos of babies and young children

For many families the photo is the slowest part. A few things help:

• Use a plain, light background. For a baby, lay them on a plain sheet and take the photo from directly above.
• Keep hands, toys and dummies out of the frame.
• Use daylight from a window rather than a flash, to avoid shadows and red eye.
• Take several photos and pick the clearest.

Older children follow the same rules as adults: facing the camera, a neutral expression, no hat and nothing covering the face.

Children with different passports or nationalities

In mixed-nationality families, each person applies using the passport they'll travel on, so one family can need a mix of permissions:

• A child with an eligible passport needs an ETA, even if a parent doesn't (for example, because the parent is British or has a UK visa).
• A child whose only passport isn't on the ETA list can't get an ETA and may need a visa. The GOV.UK visa checker will tell you.
• A dual national child should apply with the passport they'll travel on, and travel on that same passport.
• A child who is a British citizen can't get an ETA, because British citizens don't need one. They'll need to show they're British when they travel, normally with a British passport, and GOV.UK explains the options for dual British citizens.

Children's passports often last fewer years than adults', so check the expiry date. The ETA ends when the passport does, and a renewed passport needs a new ETA.

School trips, teams and larger groups

For school trips, sports teams, tour groups and extended family holidays, the rule doesn't change: one ETA per traveller. Most problems with groups come from organisation rather than eligibility.

• Keep a list of every traveller with their nationality, passport number and expiry date
• Note who has applied and who has received a decision
• Pick out anyone who doesn't need an ETA (British or Irish citizens, visa holders) and anyone who needs a visa instead
• Start early enough to sort out photos and any passport renewals

Each application is decided on its own. If one traveller's application is held for further checks, the rest of the group may already have their decisions, so build in time for that.

Applying for the whole family

You can apply for each family member yourself in the UK ETA app or at GOV.UK, paying £20 for each. If you'd rather hand the paperwork to one person, our Family & group plan gives you a single coordinator who checks every traveller's application, photos included, before anything is submitted.