Border ContractsPublic register

United Kingdom · travel authorisation

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

In operation Status as of 19 October 2026 · Funding type: Passenger or user fee

UK ETA is a permission to travel for eligible visitors, not a guarantee of entry. Official guidance lists GBP 20 per application and requires eligible children to apply 1. The Home Office privacy notice distinguishes app deletion from longer central retention. It says complex or adverse decisions are taken by trained staff, even though issuance can be automated 2. These sources establish the public service and its data policy, not a named supplier contract. Contract value, procurement route, ownership and supplier revenue share remain unpublished.

Key terms

Read the guide to API and PNR passenger data.

Buyer
Home Office 2
Vendor
Not published
Vendor based in
Not confirmed
Signed
Not published
Duration
Not published
Value
Not published
Funding
passenger fee
Fee model
GBP 20 per application, including eligible babies and children. Supplier allocation not published 1
Procurement route
Not published
System ownership
Not published
Data terms
Home Office processes the information. Facial images are typically kept for three years, with grounds for longer retention. Biographic and personal data remain for 15 years after the last case action. The app retains no data after successful submission. Check-service input remains up to 30 minutes after activity, and access logs for 30 days 2

Timeline

  1. 19 October 2026: Recorded status is In operation.

Sources

  1. UK Government: ETA overview (accessed 19 October 2026)
  2. Home Office: ETA privacy notice (updated 13 November 2025)

Fields marked "Not published" or "Not confirmed" could not be established from an official or reliable source. If you hold a document that fills a gap or corrects an entry, write to editor@bordercontracts.org. Last checked 19 October 2026.

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