Do students need an ETA for UK summer school?

Do students need an ETA for UK summer school?

This summer we’re looking forward to welcoming students from all over the world to our UK summer schools. 

Until recently many of them could travel to the UK without a visa but this changed on 2 April 2025 when the UK introduce an ETA. 

Who needs to apply for an ETA?

Anyone entering the UK from EU countries + others such as Brazil, Japan, Mexico and Saudi Arabia now needs an ETA (which stands for Electronic Travel Authorisation). 

You can find a full list of countries here. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-when-you-can-get-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

Applying for an ETA is necessary regardless of whether you’re a 5-year-old studying at Collingham, a 15-year-old at Winchester or an adult . 

Who doesn’t need an ETA?

There are many nationalities which still require a visa for entry to the UK such as Turkey, China and South Korea. As a result they don’t need an ETA.

You don’t need an ETA if you already have a UK visa or have the right to live, work or study in Britain. Other exemptions include those with dual British or Irish nationality. For a full list click here. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta#who-does-not-need-an-eta

What can you do with an ETA? 

Having an ETA gives you the right to come to the UK for up to 6 months to visit family, for tourism, business or to do a short course such as an English language summer school. 

Remember that you can’t stay for longer than 6 months or work unless you have additional permissions.

How do I apply for an ETA?

Luckily the application process seems to be quite quick and easy. The simplest way is to download the UK ETA app. Once you’ve set it up, you’ll need to upload photos of the person who is travelling and their passport. It will ask for their address, job, criminal history and any other nationalities they may have. If you’re applying for your child, you’ll need to give parental contact details. You don’t need to enter travel details or information about where they’ll be staying or studying. 

The cost is £16 (GBP) and it lasts for 2 years or until their passport expires – whichever is sooner. Payment has to be made online by credit/debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. 

When should I apply for an ETA?

According to the UK government website, you should get a decision within 3 days but it’s often much faster. We recommend you apply a few weeks before you travel to avoid last minute panic!

Don’t forget that if you’re travelling as a family everyone will need to get an ETA – it isn’t just for children studying with us.

Luckily, if you apply for an ETA at the last minute you can travel to the UK before you’ve received a decision. The important thing is to apply before you travel.

What happens once the ETA is granted?

Once your application has been approved you’ll receive an email confirmation and you can delete the app. 

Your ETA will be linked to your passport digitally, and you won’t need to show anything else when you get to border control when you enter the UK.

Where can I find more information about the ETA application process?

The UK government has a very helpful website which explains the full process. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

If you have any other questions about visa or travel requirements, please contact us today. Our Head Office team will be happy to help you.