Which is better, a UK visa or an ETA? How to choose for family members coming to the UK?

On the passport data page, name, nationality, passport number, and validity period each occupy a separate field. For family members traveling to the UK, what procedures are required can be verified starting from this information and existing UK permits.

Do family members need a UK visa or an ETA to come to the UK?

Chinese ordinary passport holders, without a valid UK visa, who are visiting the UK for short-term family visits or tourism still need to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa. The current Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor: Visa national list, paragraph VN 1.1 lists China as a country requiring prior visa application; ordinary passport holders cannot use an ETA instead of this application. Even if residing long-term in another country, or holding local permanent residency, the applicant's nationality as stated on their travel passport will be checked.

I think when arranging the schedule for family members, confirming which entry procedures each person needs should come before purchasing non-refundable tickets.

Passport holders of countries on the applicable list, such as Canada and Australia, who do not have a UK visa and are not exempt, usually need to apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) for short-term family visits. Those with a valid UK visa or residence permit are exempt; UK or Irish citizens are usually also exempt. British dual nationals cannot apply for an ETA and can travel using a valid UK passport.

Does September have a new effective date?

The relevant boarding checks have been implemented since February 25, 2026, and this node has already passed.

The written response published by the UK Parliament on September 11, 2026, Home Office confirmed that passengers without a valid ETA cannot board transportation to the UK. The response also stated that further implementation measures are still under consideration, and no effective date for the next phase has been listed. As of September 24, 2026, family travel should be prepared according to the currently implemented requirements, without waiting for a date that has not yet been announced.

Can a family apply together?

Family members needing ETA should apply individually, and infants also need separate applications.

At £20 per person based on the current fees verified on September 24, 2026; a total of £60 for three family members requiring ETA, with no combined price for families. The UK government application guide allows applying on behalf of others. When parents are not present, use the official online form, prepare photos of the passport information page and facial photo of the parents, as well as an email address that can receive the decision notice and payment method.

Decisions for applications submitted in the same batch may be issued at different times.

This step is easy to miss: Home Office The 4.5 section of the August 3, 2026 version of "Electronic travel authorisation: caseworker guidance" clearly states that once an ETA application is submitted, it cannot be withdrawn, changed or modified, and requesting changes will not provide an opportunity for modification. When filling out the form for a family member, I recommend verifying before payment: check the name spelling and passport number word by word against the document page, confirm that the photo taken is the passport to be used for this trip, and then have the person verify their personal information and related declaration questions. If you have already made a mistake and need to correct the information, you must re-apply, and the original application fee will not be refunded; checking additional information after receiving the payment confirmation may result in an additional application. Using your own email to receive notifications should also match each decision with the corresponding family member's passport information one by one, to avoid taking the approval of one person as the completion of the process for the entire family.

In terms of time, I recommend reserving at least 3 working days, and adding more buffer time if the schedule is tight, and confirming approval for each person individually.

The UK government guidelines state that a decision is usually received within one day, but may take up to 3 working days; if no message is received after this time, you can first check your spam folder, then contact UKVI. The payment receipt only indicates that the payment has been made; before traveling, you need to receive confirmation that the ETA has been granted.

How long can you stay after approval, and what should you do if you need to change your passport?

The validity period of the ETA and the duration of each stay need to be checked separately.

The current "Immigration Rules" Appendix Electronic Travel Authorisation, paragraphs ETA 4.1 to 4.3 stipulate: Authorization is usually valid for two years, and will expire if the passport expires earlier; during this period, multiple visits to the UK are allowed, with each visit for family visits or tourism usually not exceeding six months. Two years of validity does not mean that you can stay continuously for two years, nor can you use frequent round-trip journeys to treat the UK as a long-term residence. The ETA is linked only to the passport used at the time of application, and a new application is required after obtaining a new passport; approval does not guarantee entry.

Confirm the authorization status and expiration date again before departure, and keep the address, itinerary, and return arrangements with you, to facilitate explaining the plan for this visit.

[Data Source] UK Government ETA Application Guide; Home Office Electronic Travel Authorization Case Guidance; UK Parliament Written Answer 27869.

This article is for reference only. For specific issues, please consult a licensed attorney.

Family members still waiting for ETA decision should have their departure time based on the actual approval, and the flight date will not be shortened for the processing.

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