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

The name, nationality, passport number, and validity period each occupy a separate column on the passport data page. For family members traveling to the UK, which procedures are required can be verified starting from this information and existing UK permissions.

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

Chinese ordinary passport holders with no valid UK visa are still required to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa (Standard Visitor Visa) when visiting the UK for short-term family visits or tourism. 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 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 from 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, but can travel using a valid UK passport.

Is there a new effective date in September?

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 have one together?

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

According to the current fees verified on September 24, 2026, it is £20 per person; for three people, the total is £60 with ETA, no family discount. The UK government application guide allows applying for others. When parents are not present, use the official online form, prepare photos of their passport pages and facial photos, as well as an email address that can receive the decision notice and payment tool.

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

This step is easy to miss: Home Office The 2026 August 3rd edition of "Electronic Travel Authorisation: Caseworker Guidance" section 4.5 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 double-checking 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 there are errors and the information needs to be corrected, a new application must be submitted, 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, to avoid mistaking the approval of one person as the completion of the entire family's process.

In terms of time, I recommend reserving at least 3 working days, and adding more buffer time if the schedule is tight. Confirm approval on a person-by-person basis.

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

How long can you stay after approval, and what to do when changing passports?

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; multiple visits to the UK are allowed during this period, with each visit for family visits or tourism usually not exceeding six months. The two-year validity does not mean that you can stay continuously for two years, nor can you use frequent round-trip travel 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.

Before departure, you can double-check the authorization status and expiration date, and keep your address, itinerary, and return arrangements on hand to explain 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 approval 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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