Family
UK ETA for children and babies: every person needs their own ETA
· GOV.UK, Home Office
If you are travelling with your family to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you have to plan for every single person – from the baby to the grandparents. Here is what gov.uk says about it.
Every child needs their own ETA
GOV.UK states: “Each person travelling needs an ETA, including babies and children.” There is no joint ETA for parents and children. Each application is decided individually and may be answered at different times – even for families who apply together.
Parents can apply on behalf of their children: gov.uk allows applications for other people. In the app this is possible if the person is with you; otherwise you apply online with a photo of the passport and of the face. The answers in the application concern the person you are applying for and must be correct.
The child’s passport and photo
The ETA is linked to the passport used for the application and is only valid if the child travels with that passport. You therefore need a separate valid passport and a recent facial photo that meets the rules for digital photos for each child. If the photo does not meet the rules, the application may be delayed or refused.
“2 years or until the passport expires” also applies to children – if the passport expires earlier, the ETA ends earlier too. More on this under UK ETA validity.
How to proceed as a family
- Check passports: does every person have a valid passport that lasts until after the return journey?
- Submit one application per person and pay the official fee (£20 per person).
- Keep an eye on your inbox (including the spam folder) and file every ETA confirmation.
- Apply at least three working days before departure, as recommended by the Home Office.
With our application assistance you pay one package for the first person and a reduced service fee for further travellers on the same trip; the amounts are on our prices page. You can of course also submit all applications directly on gov.uk.
Frequently asked questions
- From what age does a child need a UK ETA?
- From birth. gov.uk explicitly mentions babies and children.
- May parents apply on behalf of their child?
- Yes, gov.uk allows applications for other people. The information must be truthful.
- Are there exceptions for school classes?
- The Immigration Rules provide narrowly defined exceptions for organised school groups (for example pupils up to 19 years of age at schools in certain European countries travelling in groups of at least 5). Clarify this with the school and on gov.uk.
Sources and date
Checked on 4 October 2026. Rules and fees may change; the current publication on gov.uk is authoritative. This article is general information, not legal or immigration advice.
Next steps
Prepare your application, compare prices or keep reading – in every case the Home Office makes the decision.