When you travel to the UK with an approved ETA, your first check happens before you even board the plane, ferry, or train. The carrier will confirm that your ETA is valid and that it matches the passport you’re travelling with, so make sure you use the same passport you used in the application (including if you hold dual nationality). If the carrier can’t verify your ETA, or your details don’t match, you may be refused boarding, so it’s smart to have your confirmation email handy and your passport ready for inspection.

On arrival, head to the UK border as usual. An ETA isn’t a visa and doesn’t guarantee entry; a Border Force officer (or an eGate, if you’re eligible to use one) still makes the final decision. If you can use an eGate, follow the signs, remove hats and sunglasses, and look straight at the screen while your passport chip is read. If you go to an officer, expect simple questions about your trip, purpose of visit, length of stay, where you’ll stay, and be prepared to show supporting evidence like a return ticket, accommodation details, and proof you can fund your stay.

After passport control, collect any checked luggage and proceed through customs (green if you have nothing to declare, red if you need to declare goods, blue if arriving from the EU with goods to declare). If you’re transiting, follow airport signs for “Flight connections” and keep your boarding pass ready, some airports re-check documents for onward travel. Keep in mind that your ETA remains linked to your passport for its validity period, so for future trips you’ll repeat the same simple carrier check and border process each time.