UK ETA Visa Application Guide 2026: Mobile Steps, Cost, & Time

How to Apply for Your UK Travel ETA Visa on Mobile

Price and Processing Time

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Text & Photos by Haibuubu

Essential for Your UK Trip: The ETA Visa

With the upcoming long holidays,

I bet many of you are eyeing the UK for your next long-term adventure!

I'm planning my own trip to London, UK, too,

and I've realized there's quite a bit more to prepare in advance than I initially thought,

so I'm hustling to get everything sorted.

And right at the top of that essential prep list is the ETA visa.

The UK ETA, or 'Electronic Travel Authorisation,' as it's officially known,

is an electronic travel authorization scheme.

You'll need an ETA to travel to the UK, and once you get it,

you're all set for unlimited entries for two whole years!

Make sure to get it sorted well in advance, so you can arrive without a hitch and focus on the excitement of your trip!

So, let's dive into the essential details for your UK visit:

how to apply for your ETA visa on mobile,

plus the price and processing time – all the nitty-gritty details you'll need!

Applying for Your ETA Visa on Mobile: A Step-by-Step Guide

You can apply for your UK ETA either through their website or a dedicated app.

✅But trust me, using the app is the way to go!

Since you'll need to take photos of your passport and your face during the process,

the mobile app makes it so much smoother and easier.

Let's dive right into the application process!

First things first, you'll need to download the official UK ETA app.

Once downloaded, open the app and swipe through the introductory screens until you reach the 'next' button

on the right.

📍 Quick tip: Before you start your ETA application, make sure you have these essentials ready:

your passport, an active email address, and a payment card!

After reading the brief introduction to the ETA,

tap the 'Start Now' and 'Agree and Next' buttons.

Then, following the sequence in the photos, select 'South Korea' for your nationality,

enter your email address and verify it with the authentication code,

then set your country code to +82 and fill in your contact number.

Just so you know, your ETA approval email will be sent to this verified email address,

so make sure to enter an email address you actively use!

Next up, you'll need to scan your passport's bio-information chip.

When asked about the bio-chip, make sure to check 'Yes',

then, after photographing your passport, once you see the 'Scan Ready' message,

gently place your phone on your passport

to initiate the chip scan.

Just a quick tip: if your phone or passport has a case on it,

please remove it before scanning.

Next, you'll need to submit a face scan and a photo.

When taking your photo, make sure the background is clean,

and the lighting is bright with no shadows –

this will help you pass the verification process in one go!

Following this, you'll need to fill in your English address.

✅ If you're not sure, you can search for an 'English address converter' on Naver

and simply copy-paste it like this:

Address Line 1 - Street Name

Town or city - City Name

Your nationality will be automatically recognized as Korean,

so just hit the 'Next' button!

Next, you'll answer three questions.

I imagine your answers will generally be similar to these,

so I hope this helps!

1. Do you have a job? If so, what is your occupation?

Yes, I have a job. Office worker.

2. Have you ever committed a crime?

I have never committed a crime.

3. Have you ever assisted or been suspected of assisting in war, terrorism, etc.?

No.

Finally, please double-check that all your information has been entered correctly.

Once you submit the application, you won't be able to change any details,

so please make sure to check carefully!

Next, click the 'Pay' button.

UK ETA Application Fee

📌The UK ETA application fee is 16 pounds.

(Approximately ~$21 when converted from KRW)

You can pay with Apple Pay, Visa, Mastercard,

Amex, or JCB cards.

If you apply from Korea, please note that it will be converted and charged as 22.45 US dollars!

I've applied for ETAs to other countries as well, but the UK ETA seems to be relatively more expensive!

I heard the fee increased this year,

so those who applied early are the real winners!

ETA Processing Time

Once you proceed through the card payment step above,

you'll see a 'Submission Complete' message,

like the left screen in the photo below.

Immediately after, you'll receive an application submission confirmation email.

The email usually states that approval decisions are made within 3 business days,

but mine was processed in just 1 minute!

Seeing as I got UK travel approval in just one minute,

it seems like it's almost an automatic approval process.

However, since you never know what situations might arise,

❗️​I recommend that you complete the ETA application process at least 3 days before your entry date.

Just a quick note, even if you have an acquaintance (in the UK), you'll still apply through the same app.

You can apply for them consecutively!

Make sure to prepare your ETA visa well in advance,

so you can have a smooth entry for your UK trip!

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▼ Planning your UK London adventure? Don't forget these essentials! ▼