If you hold a passport from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain, you need a UK ETA before you fly to the UK. The good news is the paperwork is short. You do not need bank statements, hotel bookings, flight tickets or a sponsor letter.
You need four things: your passport, a face photo, an email address and a way to pay. That’s it.
The catch is that small mistakes with those four things cause most of the delays. A blurry passport photo, a face photo that breaks the rules, or a typo in your email can cost you days you may not have. This guide walks through each item, shows you how to get it right the first time, and tells you what to do once you have everything ready.
Official UK ETA Application: https://application.etauk.ae/
The short answer: what you need
Here is the full list.
| What you need | Why you need it | Quick tip |
|---|---|---|
| Your passport | The ETA gets linked to it | Use the same passport you will travel with |
| A photo of your passport | To read your details | Show the full data page, all four corners |
| A photo of your face | To confirm it is you | Plain light background, no filters |
| An email address | Your decision is sent here | Use one you check every day |
| A card, Apple Pay or Google Pay | To pay the application fee | Have it ready before you start |
That’s the whole list. Nothing else is asked for as a document.
Who this guide is for
The UK ETA applies to nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE when they visit the UK for things like tourism, visiting family, business meetings or short study. An ETA lets you stay up to 6 months.
Two groups often get confused, so let’s clear them up.
You live in a GCC country but hold another passport. Living in Dubai or Riyadh does not decide whether you need an ETA. Your nationality does. Some nationalities need a full visa instead of an ETA, so it’s worth checking your specific passport country before you start gathering documents.
You hold British or Irish citizenship too. Dual citizens cannot get an ETA. You would travel on a valid British passport, another passport with a certificate of entitlement, or a valid Irish passport instead.
Document 1: Your passport
Your ETA is tied to one passport. Whatever passport number you enter is the one the airline and border officers will match against.
What to check before you start:
- Use the exact passport you will fly with. If you hold two, pick one and stick with it.
- Check the expiry date. Your ETA lasts 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. If your passport ends in 8 months, your ETA ends in 8 months too.
- If you get a new passport, your old ETA will not carry over. You need to apply again.
A tip worth knowing: there’s no strict rule requiring a set number of months left on your passport just to apply. But plenty of travelers still renew a passport that’s close to expiry before applying anyway, simply because paying the fee for an ETA that dies in a few months isn’t worth it. If your passport is nearly due and a trip is coming up, renew first.
For more on how long an ETA stays active once approved, see our guide on UK ETA validity and duration.
Document 2: A clear photo of your passport data page
The application asks for a photo of your passport, meaning the page with your photo, name, date of birth and passport number.
How to take it properly:
- Open the passport flat on a dark table.
- Stand directly above it so the page isn’t at an angle.
- Make sure all four corners are visible.
- Check that the two or three lines of letters and numbers at the bottom (the machine readable zone) are sharp and fully in frame.
- Turn off flash so there’s no glare across the text.
A cut-off corner or a glare spot over the bottom lines is an easy way to get flagged. Take the photo in daylight near a window and zoom in on the result before you upload it.
Document 3: A face photo (the one people get wrong)
This is where most problems start. The face photo is not the same as your passport photo. It cannot be the same photo that’s already in your passport or ID card. It has to be a fresh photo of you.
The technical rules to follow:
- At least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall
- At least 50KB and no more than 6MB
- A JPG or JPEG file
- Vertical (portrait) orientation
- In colour, in focus, taken in a well-lit room
- Not mirrored or flipped
- Not edited or filtered
You can take it on your phone or tablet. If possible, ask someone else to take it for you. It genuinely reduces the chance of rejection compared to a selfie.
What the photo must show:
- Your head, shoulders and upper body
- A plain, light-coloured background with clear contrast between you and the wall
- You looking straight at the camera, mouth closed, eyes open and visible
- No shadows on your face or behind you
- No other people or objects in the frame
GCC-specific photo tips
Some real situations come up often for travelers from the Gulf, so here are practical ways to handle them.
White clothing against a white wall. Many people wear a white thobe or a light abaya at home and stand against a white wall. The rules ask for clear contrast between you and the background. If your clothes and the wall blend together, try a light grey or pale cream wall instead, or wear something darker for the photo.
Head coverings. Head coverings are allowed for religious or medical reasons. What matters is that your facial features stay clearly visible. Keep your face uncovered and well lit, and make sure the covering doesn’t cast a shadow over your eyes or forehead.
Glasses. Do not wear glasses unless you must. If you do, they cannot be sunglasses or tinted, and the frames, glare or reflections must not cover your eyes. Tilt your head slightly or remove the glasses if you spot a reflection on screen.
Filters. Many phone cameras add “beauty” smoothing without telling you. Check your camera settings and switch it off. Edited photos can be rejected.
For a longer walkthrough with more photo examples, see our guide to UK ETA biometric and photo requirements.
Document 4: Your email address
Your decision and your 16-digit ETA reference number are sent by email. Nothing else.
- Use an address you check daily, not an old one you barely open.
- Type it slowly and read it back. One wrong letter means your approval goes to a stranger, or nowhere.
- Check your spam or junk folder if you haven’t heard back after a few days.
If you’re applying for your whole family, you can use the same email for everyone. Just remember each person still needs their own application, and decisions can arrive at different times.
Document 5: A payment method
You can pay by credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Two things to know:
- There’s no refund after you apply, even if you’re rejected.
- There’s no family bundle. Each traveler is charged separately.
If you’re rejected or need to fix a detail after submitting, you have to apply again and pay again. That’s one more reason to check everything before you press submit.
Applying for children and babies
Every traveler needs their own ETA, including babies. A few rules that surprise parents:
- Children must be alone in their own photo.
- Babies cannot hold toys or use dummies (pacifiers).
- Children under 6 do not need to look at the camera or keep a plain expression.
- Babies under 1 do not need to have their eyes open.
- For very small babies, lay them on a plain light-coloured sheet and take the photo from above. Your hand can support their head but must not show in the shot.
Picture a family of four flying from Doha with a 7-month-old. The parents can apply for all four in one sitting, as long as everyone is with them. Trying to get a sleeping baby to open their eyes isn’t needed, which saves a lot of stress. Just lay the baby on a white bedsheet near a window and take one good photo. Our page on UK ETA for children has a longer family checklist.
What you do NOT need
Many people over-prepare because they assume the ETA works like a full visa. The application only asks for the passport, the photos, your email and your payment. You do not need to gather:
- Bank statements
- Hotel or accommodation bookings
- Return flight tickets
- A letter of invitation
- Your national ID, Iqama or residence permit
You will answer some questions about yourself during the application, such as questions about criminal convictions and past immigration issues. Answer them honestly and carefully. These are questions, not documents you upload.
Common mistakes that cause delays
These are the errors that slow people down or force them to reapply.
- Spelling your name differently from the passport. Use your full name exactly as it appears in the passport, including middle names. No nicknames. See our list of common UK ETA application errors for more examples.
- Using an old photo or your passport photo as the face photo. The face photo must be a new picture of you.
- Blurry or cropped passport page. All four corners and the bottom lines must show.
- A typo in the email address. Your approval only goes to that inbox.
- Applying with one passport and flying with another. The ETA is linked to the passport you applied with.
- Waiting until the day before your flight. Most decisions arrive within a day, but it can take longer in some cases. Leave yourself extra time in case you need to fix a photo and resubmit.
- Renewing your passport after getting the ETA. A new passport means a new ETA.
- Paying on a lookalike site. Some sites imitate official-looking services and charge extra fees without telling you upfront. Always double check who you’re applying through.
Step by step: from documents to approval
Once your four items are ready, the process is quick.
- Get your passport, phone and card in one place.
- Take the passport photo and face photo, and check them on screen.
- Start your application.
- Enter your details exactly as they appear in the passport.
- Answer the questions honestly.
- Pay the fee.
- Wait for your email. Most people hear back within a day, though it can take longer.
- Do not travel until you have the approval email in hand.
For a longer walkthrough with screenshots, see our step by step guide to applying for the UK ETA, or read the UK ETA online application guide.
After you’re approved
You do not need to print anything. The ETA is digitally linked to your passport, and you only need to show your passport when you travel. Still, save a screenshot of your approval email and your reference number as a backup.
Keep in mind an ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK. Border officers make the final decision when you arrive. Our page on what to do after UK ETA approval covers how the airport check works and what to do if your details change.
Should you apply on your own or get help?
You can apply on your own if you’re comfortable double-checking every detail yourself. It just takes care and a bit of patience.
Some travelers prefer having another set of eyes on their application before it’s sent, especially if English isn’t their first language, or if they’re applying for several family members at once. A second check on your photo, your spelling, and your details can catch the small mistakes that cause rejections. If you’d like that kind of help, our team can walk you through it and review your documents before you submit.
Quick checklist before you submit
- Passport is valid and is the one I’ll travel with
- Passport data page photo shows all four corners and the bottom lines clearly
- Face photo is new, plain light background, no filter, mouth closed, eyes open
- Face photo is a JPG, at least 600 by 750 pixels, between 50KB and 6MB
- Name matches my passport exactly
- Email address is correct and I check it daily
- Payment method is ready
- I’ve applied at least a few working days before I fly
Frequently asked questions
Do GCC citizens need a visa for the UK? For short visits, GCC nationals need an ETA instead of a visa. It covers tourism, visiting family, business meetings and short study, for stays up to 6 months. Longer stays, work and most study still need a proper visa.
How long does it take to get a decision? Most people get an email within a day. It can take a bit longer in some cases, so don’t leave it to the last minute.
How long is a UK ETA valid? Two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. You can make as many trips as you like during that time, up to 6 months each.
Can I use the same photo as my passport? No. The face photo must be a fresh picture of you. It cannot be the same photo that appears in your passport or ID card.
Can I apply for my family in one go? Each person needs their own application, including children and babies. You can apply for others, and if they’re with you, it’s easy to do them all in one sitting.
I live in the UAE but I’m not a UAE national. Do I need an ETA? It depends on your nationality, not where you live. Check your specific passport country to find out.
What if my ETA is rejected? You cannot fix an application after it’s submitted. You need to apply again with the correct details, and you pay the fee again. Check the photos and spelling carefully before you submit.
Do I need to print my ETA? No. It’s linked to your passport digitally. Keep a screenshot of the approval email as a backup.
Ready to apply?
If you have your passport, a good face photo, an email address and a payment method, you’re ready. Take ten minutes, check every detail, and you can have your decision by the next day.
If you’d like your documents checked before you submit, start on our UK ETA application page and our team can help.
