UK ETA for Children and Families
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Every traveller entering the United Kingdom, including infants and children, requires an individual Electronic Travel Authorisation. This guide explains how applications for families work.
There is no single family ETA. Each traveller, including infants and children, must hold an individual approved ETA linked to their own passport. A separate application is required for every passport in the group.
How families apply
Gather every passport and photo
Collect a valid passport and a compliant recent photo for each family member before you start.
Apply for each person
Complete one application per traveller. An adult can apply on behalf of each child using the child's own passport details.
Review and submission
Each application is checked for completeness and common errors, then submitted, so that every traveller in the group holds the required authorisation.
Frequently asked questions
Do babies and children need a UK ETA?
Yes. Every traveller needs their own approved UK ETA, regardless of age. Infants and children must each have an individual ETA linked to their own passport before boarding transport to the United Kingdom.
Can a parent apply on behalf of a child?
Yes. An adult can complete and submit a child's UK ETA application for them. Each child still needs a separate application tied to that child's own passport.
Does each family member pay separately?
Yes. There are no family or group discounts for the UK ETA. Each application is priced per traveller, so a family of four submits four applications.
Can we apply for the whole family at once?
A separate application is completed for each person. Applications for a family can be prepared together in a single session.
Photos and documents for children
A child's application needs the same two documents as an adult's: the child's own passport and a recent digital photo of the child. The photo must meet the same UKVI biometric standards that apply to adults: plain background, face fully visible, no obstructions. For infants, take the photo from directly above while the child lies on a plain light sheet; the eyes should be open where possible.
A parent or guardian completes the application on the child's behalf, and the details entered must match the child's passport exactly. Review the photo requirements and passport requirements before starting, as they apply to every age.
Validity and renewals for children
A child's ETA is valid for two years or until the child's passport expires, whichever comes first. Because children's passports are often issued for five years and renewed more frequently than adults', check the passport expiry date when planning travel: a renewed passport always requires a new ETA, since the authorisation is linked electronically to the passport it was issued against.
Apply for your family's UK ETA
Each traveller's application can be prepared in one place and is reviewed for completeness before filing.