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  • Last updated: 19 June 2025

UK ETA for Hong Kong Citizens

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What is the UK ETA for Hong Kong Citizens?

The UK ETA is a new travel permit that allows citizens of various countries including Hong Kong to enter the UK for short visits and specific purposes. This travel permit is not a visa and it will enable holders to enter the country multiple times for short stays of up to 6 months. The purpose of the eta for the UK is to provide visitors with advanced travel permission that will be valid for 2 years, so multiple applications are not necessary for each trip, allowing visitors from Hong Kong and other eligible countries to plan trips to the UK easily. Before the UK introduced the ETA for visitors to the kingdom, many nationalities, including Hong Kong citizens, could travel visa-free, but as of January 8th, 2025, an ETA is required. Applications for the ETA for Hong Kong citizens opened on November 27th, 2024, and while this may be an extra document to think about when traveling, fear not because the application process is relatively straightforward. The UK ETA in 2025, will make travel to the UK seamless and comes with a host of benefits for worldwide applicants. The UK government introduced the UK ETA for Qatari citizens in October 2023 before rolling it to the rest of the GCC countries in February 2024, and now Hong Kong citizens can apply for the ETA for travel starting from January 8, 2025. The UK ETA can be obtained for the following purposes:
  • Visiting to stay up to 6 months at a time for tourism, visiting family or friends, business purposes, or short-term study.
  • Visiting to go to the UK for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession.
  • Visiting for a permitted paid engagement.
  • Transit purposes, even if not going through border control.
In this page we will dive into the details regarding the UK ETA for Hong Kong citizens, to ensure you are prepared for your journey. So, if you were wondering ‘Do I need an ETA for the UK?’, we’ve got all the information you need below.

Hong Kong Visitor Statistics to the United Kingdom

Citizens of Hong Kong love to travel, so much so that in 2023, travelers made 6 million outbound visits, totaling $22.7 billion in tourism expenditure. Regarding travel to the UK, there were 256,000 visits from Hong Kong to the UK in 2023. It was calculated that the total expenditure of these visits to the UK during this time totaled £381.7 billion, which is around £1,491 per visit. 

 

Benefits of the UK ETA for Australian Citizens aBenefits of the UK ETA for Hong Kong Citizens

While it may seem like an additional thing to consider before planning a trip to the UK, there are a host of benefits that come with the UK ETA for Hong Kong citizens. The new UK ETA scheme is a laudable initiative by the UK government. For interested candidates in Australia, there are benefits that come with the UK ETA for Australians. Let’s see three of them below.

Cost Effective

Cost Effective

It is cost-effective, meaning you only need to apply once in two years, allowing multiple entries to the UK for short-stay purposes.

Quick and Easy

Quick and Easy

The easy application process means you waste no time visiting embassies or filling out lots of paperwork, instead a quick online application is accessible.

Multi-Purpose Use

Multi-Purpose Use

The ETA can be used for many short-stay reasons, whether it is to visit friends and family, for tourism or business purposes, or for traveling on the Creative Worker visa concession.

Digital Process

Digital Process

The electronic travel authorization for the UK is exactly that – it is all electronic. This means it is digitally linked to your passport, so you will not need to show anything else when arriving in the UK.

UK ETA Eligibility Criteria
for Hong Kong Citizens

If you are planning to apply for a UK ETA, it is advised to check if you are eligible. There are a few things to consider before making the application or paying any fees. The following criteria are for Hong Kong Citizens:

1

Passport

Hong Kong Citizens must have a valid passport from Hong Kong to be eligible to apply for the UK ETA.

2

Nationality

To be eligible for this UK travel permit, applicants must be citizens of Hong Kong or another ETA-eligible country.

3

No Criminal Record or Restrictions

Applicants must not have been convicted of a crime in the UK or abroad within the 12 months preceding their application date. Additionally, applicants must not have spent 12 months or more in prison, have been convicted of a crime in the UK or abroad within the last 12 months as this will affect the outcome of their application and may lead to refusal. If this is the case, applicants may still apply with supporting documents, but a UK ETA or entry to the UK at all is not guaranteed. An alternative would be applying for a visa instead.

4

Duration of Stay

Those applying for the UK ETA must not have plans to stay longer than 6 months in the UK, if this is the case, they may need to apply for a traditional visa instead.

UK ETA Validity and Duration of Stay

One of the highlights of the UK ETA online application is that once you have the ETA granted, you have access to the UK for multiple short stays of up to six months. In addition, when it comes to the UK ETA validity, this travel permit will be valid for two years, or until the applicant’s passport expires and it is important not to overstay on the ETA. If you plan to stay longer than six months, you will need to apply for an appropriate visa.

UK ETA Requirements for Hong Kong Nationals

If you are planning your UK trip you will need to know the ETA requirements. You will need to apply for the ETA for the UK in advance and to do this, there are a few things you will need to prepare.

When checking the UK requirements from Hong Kong make sure you have everything you need to obtain a UK ETA travel permit:

Have a valid passport

You should have a passport that has at least 6 months of validity beyond your intended departure from the UK before you can apply for the UK ETA. Your UK ETA will only last two years or as long as your current passport is valid, whichever is sooner. If you do not want to apply for another UK ETA within two years, it may be better to renew your passport instead.

Valid email address

The UK ETA for Hong Kong citizens is processed online and gives the applicants a digital permit to travel to the UK from Hong Kong, or anywhere else. The ETA decision is sent via email, so this is an important step in the application process to avoid any errors.

Valid Payment Method

One of the main requirements is to have a valid payment method to pay the online fee. Credit Card, Debit Card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are all accepted. Unfortunately, no other payment method can be used online to pay the UK ETA fee.

Photo

As part of the UK ETA application, you will need to upload a photo of yourself. This photo needs to be clear and recent, as it will then be submitted with your UK ETA application.

Applying for a UK ETA for Hong Kong Citizens

All countries eligible for the UK ETA will need to apply for this permit in the same manner. The steps are simple and the process is very easy once you have the required documents to hand. For the ETA for the UK, you will need to follow the following steps.

1

Fill out the UK ETA application form

  • You will need to fill in details like your name, passport number, email address, and home address.
  • You will need to declare if you have other nationalities as well as your intended arrival date into the country.
  • You will need to answer questions about your job and declare any criminal history.

2

Attach Required Documents

For this step, applicants will need to:
  • Upload a copy of their passport. The copy must feature all four corners of the bio page and cannot be a photo of a photocopy or filtered photo. It also must be clear, in focus, and without any glare.
  • Upload a recent passport photo that follows the size and format guidelines on the application page above).

3

Pay the Fee

The relevant UK ETA fee must be paid online using one of the accepted payment methods: a credit or debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.

4

Submit the Application

Before submitting your application, you need to ensure all information is correct and truthful. If not, your application could be rejected or you could be denied entry when arriving at the UK border. Always remember that it is an offense to provide false information.

5

Receive Your ETA

Once you have submitted your application, you can expect to receive your ETA decision within three business days, sometimes sooner. It is important to ensure you have access to a valid email address for this step.

If for some reason your application is denied, you will receive an email providing more details and reasons for the refusal/rejection and further steps to take.

UK ETA Processing Time and Fees for Hong Kong Citizens

One of the benefits of the UK ETA is that the processing time is very fast as well as being cost-effective and practical for those that travel often. You can expect to receive your ETA within 3 working days, but it is always best to apply ahead of time to avoid any unforeseen processing delays.

The UK ETA costs £97. This fee includes the application fees and our professional service fees. The application can be easily made here

Traveling to the UK with an ETA: Key Details

If you are traveling to the UK with an ETA, there are a few things to know in advance to save time and avoid stress.
  • As part of the UK entry requirements from Hong Kong, it is essential that you travel with the relevant passport that is linked to the ETA. If you hold multiple passports, you will need to connect your UK ETA with the one you plan to use to enter the country. When applying for your ETA you will provide your passport information online, so ensure this is the correct passport for travel to the UK.
  • It is worth noting that having an ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK, and you may be subject to questions regarding travel plans or length of stay in the UK. This is a normal procedure on behalf of the UK border control.
  • Remember that each person, including spouses or children, must have individual ETAs before travel.
  • After gaining entry to the UK, you do not have the right to travel freely around Europe but can travel freely between England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. You must ensure you do not overstay your ETA (6 months maximum) as this will hinder your chances of getting future ETAs or visas for the UK, and you could potentially be marked as a red flag for other countries.

If you are still unsure of anything, take a look at some of our frequently asked questions regarding the UK ETA for Hong Kong citizens.

FAQ

Since its launch, the UK ETA country list has expanded to include more and more visa-exempt countries.
The UK ETA start date was in October 2023 for Qatari citizens before expanding to nationals of the rest of the Gulf countries, while applications opened for other non-European eligible nationals, including Hong Kong nationals on November 27, 2024, for their travels from January 8, 2025, onwards.
European Visa-free states can apply for the UK ETA from March 5, 2025, allowing travel from April 2, 2025. If you plan to visit the UK for longer than six months you will need to apply for a traditional UK visa.

If your UK ETA is refused or rejected you will get a notification via email. You will be given details and will have the chance to submit a new application or you will be asked to apply for a visa instead. To avoid being rejected or refused, make sure you enter all details correctly before submitting your application and check that you are eligible for the UK ETA.

There are a few steps you can take in the case of rejection or refusal.

Reasons for rejection

You may be rejected due to misinformation on your application form or else missing information.

Solution

Applicants must take steps to correct the wrong information and reapply for a new UK ETA.

Reasons for refusal

Applicants may have been denied this travel authorization due to eligibility or security issues such as serious criminal convictions

Solution

In this case, the applicant will need to apply for a visa instead since they are not eligible for a UK ETA.

Various countries worldwide have been given timelines of when they can apply for the UK ETA and when they can use it for travel. Applications opened for Hong Kong citizens on November 17, 2024. They can travel to the UK with the ETA from January 8, 2025.
Hong Kong citizens as well as other nationalities eligible for a UK ETA must fill out the online application form, provide relevant photos and passport info, as well as a valid payment method and valid email address. Applicants must also have no criminal record, and if so, must declare it on the application in advance, when a decision will be made.
Traveling with a UK ETA means you have a short-stay permit valid for two years. The ETA can be used for up to six months each time, whether you are visiting the UK for tourism, business, visiting family or friends, and various other reasons. However, if you plan to stay for over six months, you will need to apply for a traditional visa.

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info@uketa.com

This website is designed to provide travelers with information and assistance in completing the necessary steps for the online Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) application, at additional professional fees. YOYO Travels L.L.C is a travel and tourism agency based in Dubai, UAE, licensed by the Government of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism. We are not affiliated with the United Kingdom government in any way. Applicants still have the option to apply for the UK ETA on their own via the official government portal at gov.uk without paying any additional professional fees.

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