What to expect when travelling to the UK with the eTA?

Once you have arrived and have disembarked the plane, some immigration officials will ensure that you are authorised or not by scanning your passport. This approval process is designed to reassure you and build up confidence for your travel to the UK, ensuring a smooth entry.

Preparing Before Your Flight

While the eTA is digital, its preparation is absolutely crucial to avoid any last-minute issues. To start, you are required to have all of the following documentation along with you before your trip starts:

• Carrying a printed photocopy of your UK eTA approval email, which was sent to your personal email. 
• This email will contain important details for your UK eTA, including its validity dates, any conditions of use, and a unique reference number that you may need for future reference. 
• There can be some airlines that ask you to provide it before entering a plane.
• Check validity dates to ensure your eTA is active for your travel dates.
• Travel with the same passport used in your application. In case you have renewed or even changed your passport, you have to apply with a new passport, as the UK eTA expires when your passport expires.
• Keep handy:
  • Passport
  • Have both your return as well as your onward flight tickets by your side at all times during your trip.
  • Accommodation bookings (hotel confirmation or host invitation letter).
  • Proof of sufficient funds (bank statement or cash/credit card).

Arrival at a UK Airport or Port

As soon as you arrive in the United Kingdom, you must find the signs that lead you to the Immigration and Border Control offices, where you can enter either one of the offices and go through the following processes as requested by the officials present there:

Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and many other major airports in UK are filled with eTA processing systems and offer support and guidance for an effortless entry to the UK.

Questions at Immigration

Even with a UK eTA, foreign nationals can expect to be asked a few questions by the country’s border officers. These questions are part of the routine and are designed to confirm that your visit aligns with the visa category you have specifically chosen, and to ensure that you have the means to support yourself during your stay.

Some of the most prominent examples would include questions such as the following:

• Why are you visiting the UK?
• How long are you planning on staying in the UK?
• Where in the United Kingdom will you be staying?
• Do you have a return ticket booked as soon as you have booked your flight for the UK?
• Do you have enough money to support your stay in the UK for the required days you plan on staying?

General Tip: Be clear and concise whenever you speak, and always be honest with your responses.

Security Checks

There are some travelers who may go through some additional checks:

• Photograph and fingerprint scanning for security purposes.
• Security questioning of various random travelers visiting the country.
• Baggage inspections for some restricted and undeclared items.

This is a standard procedure, and there's nothing to worry about if you follow the entry guidelines.

Customs Declarations

After immigration, you’ll pass through customs. There are usually three channels:

• Green Channel: Nothing to declare, and you are free to enter the UK.
• Red Channel: Some goods need to be declared, and you are asked to wait until everything is checked and confirmed to be in order.
• Blue Channel: This is primarily for passengers who are arriving directly from EU countries (where they are permitted).

Items like alcohol, tobacco, and cash that exceed certain limits. Goods that are restricted, such as all sorts of illegal drugs, certain food items, and conventional weapons, are all banned from entering the United Kingdom.

Duration of Stay and Entry Card

The more traditional visa holders receive a stamp of approval from the country they are visiting, allowing them to enter. UK eTA holders, however, are not required to receive a physical stamp in their passports.

• Your entry is logged electronically the moment you submit your e-Visa for review.
• The duration of your stay largely depends on the type of visa you have opted for.
• If you manage to overstay, it can result in heavy fines, instant deportation, or even a ban on future travel.

Always check your UK eTA maximum stay allowance before travelling

Common Problems Faced at Arrival

Even though the process is smooth for most, some travellers face minor issues:

• Wrong details on eTA: Incorrect passport numbers or typos may cause delays
• Traveling with a new passport without updating the required eTA information
• If they are having an expired authorisation due to some changes in their travel dates
• Missing travel documents, such as flight tickets

If this happens, remain calm and talk with the officer.

Post-Immigration

Once you are cleared at immigration:

• Collect your baggage from the carousel.
• Clearing customs based on declarations.
• Enter the arrivals hall, where you will find:
  • Airport transfer desks.
  • Taxis and ride-hailing services.
  • Train connections (such as with the Heathrow Express or Gatwick Express).
  • SIM card kiosks to stay connected.

Tips for a Smooth Arrival

For a much more stress-free journey from start to finish, here are some tips that will ensure you have a great trip ahead without having to go through any issues or complications:

• Keep all documents in a single travel folder for easy access.
• Avoid carrying prohibited food items (fresh meat, dairy, etc.).
• Have local UK currency or a credit card for immediate expenses.
• Download maps offline to navigate once you leave the airport.
• If travelling with family, ensure each member has their own eTA approval.

What Happens If You’re Refused Entry?

In some sporadic cases, some foreign travellers may be refused entry if they have any of the following:

• Their purpose of travel doesn’t match their visa.
• They provide false or inconsistent information.
• They lack proof of accommodation or funds.

In such situations, border officials may allow you to provide additional documents, arrange for return flights, or appeal the decision.