UK ETA Validity: How Long It Lasts and How Often You Can Use It

Wondering how long your UK ETA is valid? Learn about its duration, re-entry rules, and how many trips you can make to the UK.

7/27/20252 min read

UK ETA Validity: How Long It Lasts and How Often You Can Use It (2025 Guide)

Before applying for the UK ETA, many travelers ask one important question:

“How long is the UK ETA valid and can I use it more than once?”

Knowing the validity period and usage rules helps you plan your trip better — and even allows you to make multiple visits without reapplying.

In this guide, we’ll explain exactly how long the UK ETA lasts, how many times you can use it, and a few important rules every traveler should know in 2025.

🔎 How Long Is the UK ETA Valid?

The UK ETA is valid for 2 years from the date of approval — or until your passport expires (whichever comes first).

That means once your ETA is approved, you can enter the UK at any time within those 2 years without having to submit a new application — as long as the passport you used for the application is still valid.

UK ETA Validity Period2 years (or until passport expiry)

🔁 Can You Use the UK ETA More Than Once?

Yes — the UK ETA is a multiple-entry travel authorization.
You can use it to enter the UK as many times as you want during the 2-year validity period.

Each individual stay must still follow the standard visitor limit (up to 180 days per visit), but you can come back multiple times for short trips without reapplying, as long as your ETA and passport are still valid.

Example:

VisitAllowed With Same ETA?Trip 1 – April 2025✅ YesTrip 2 – August 2025✅ YesTrip 3 – March 2026✅ YesTrip 4 – December 2027❌ No (ETA expired after 2 years)

⚠️ Important Rules You Need to Know

  • You must leave the UK after each visit (maximum stay is 180 days per visit)

  • Your ETA becomes invalid immediately if your passport expires or changes
    → You must apply again with the new passport

  • The UK ETA does not allow long-term study, work, or permanent residence

  • Border officers can still refuse entry if you overuse the ETA or appear to be living in the country

✅ Pro Travel Tip

Apply for the UK ETA shortly before your first trip (2–4 weeks in advance).
This gives you the maximum 2-year validity period to use the same ETA for future trips.

Final Word:

The UK ETA is valid for 2 years and allows multiple entries, making it a convenient and cost-effective option for short-term travel. As long as your passport is valid and you stay within the 180-day limit per visit, you can use your ETA as many times as you want throughout its validity period.

Plan your trip now , takes just 5 minutes to apply.