The ETA remains valid for two years or until the linked passport expires, whichever comes first. During this period you can enter the UK as often as you like, but each individual stay may last no longer than six months. If your passport expires during the validity period, the ETA automatically becomes invalid as well, and you will need to submit a new application with your new passport.

In most cases a decision is made within 72 hours, often much sooner. For more complex cases or during peak periods, processing can take up to seven working days. To be on the safe side, apply for your ETA no earlier than three months and no later than 48 hours before departure, ideally about a week in advance.

Yes, and in our experience this surprises almost every family hearing about it for the first time. There is no age limit for the ETA. Every child, including newborns, needs their own passport and their own ETA, regardless of whether they travel on a parent's lap or have their own seat. A responsible adult can apply on the child's behalf and does not necessarily have to be a parent or legal guardian. All that is needed are the child's correct passport details and a suitable photo. Since 1 August 2026 there has been some relief for school classes: the list of travellers scheme for organised school trips has been reintroduced. It makes entry much easier for larger groups of pupils, but does not replace the individual ETA requirement for each child.

That depends on whether you have to pass through UK border control when changing flights. This exemption is currently considered temporary, and the British government may change it at any time.
London Heathrow (LHR): usually no ETA required if your connection is airside, your baggage is checked through and you do not have to pass through passport control. Heathrow is explicitly one of the airports where the British government permits airside transit without an ETA.
Manchester (MAN): also usually no ETA required for genuine airside transit without passport control.
London Gatwick (LGW): ETA usually required, because you normally go landside when changing flights and therefore have to pass through UK border control.
Stansted (STN), Luton (LTN), Birmingham (BHX), Edinburgh (EDI), Glasgow (GLA) and the other UK airports do not offer an airside transit area for international connections. Here you should generally expect to need an ETA for transit.

Important: Even at Heathrow or Manchester an ETA may become necessary, for example if you have to collect and re-check your baggage, travel on separate tickets or your specific connection does not allow an airside transfer. As soon as you pass through passport control, you need an ETA as a national of an ETA-eligible country such as Germany. We generally recommend applying for an ETA as a precaution even for a pure transit connection, as gate, terminal or flight changes can occur at short notice and may make it necessary to pass through UK border control after all.