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  • Last updated: 19 June 2025

UK ETA for Polish Citizens

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What is a UK ETA for Polish Citizens?

The UK ETA for Poland is a newly launched travel permit system that allows citizens of various countries worldwide, including Poland, to visit the UK. Once obtained, the permit allows Polish citizens to visit the UK for short stays of up to 6 months for specific purposes. The UK ETA system is not a visa but rather a travel authorization that is valid for 2 years, allowing the holder to enter as many times as they wish. If you are a citizen of a country that was previously visa-free for UK travel, such as Poland, you are eligible for this travel permit, which makes traveling to the UK easier. The UK ETA start date is in January 2025, making travel to the UK seamless and beneficial for Polish applicants. The UK government introduced the UK ETA in September 2024 for various nationalities that were previously visa-free. Polish citizens can apply for this travel permit on the 5th of March 2025 for travels to the UK on or after the 2nd of April 2025. When first launched, Gulf countries were the first to be allowed to apply for the permit, followed by countries like Australia, the US, Uruguay, and New Zealand. From 5th March, Polish citizens and other EU citizens can apply for the UK ETA. The UK ETA is suited to these specific purposes:
  • Visiting to stay up to 6 months at a time for tourism, visiting family or friends, permitted business purposes, or short-term study.
  • Visiting the UK for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession.
  • Visiting for a permitted paid engagement.
  • Transit purposes, even if you won’t go through border control.
  • Short-term studies.

Visitor Statistics to the United Kingdom from Poland

In 2022, travelers from Poland made approximately 1.35 million visits to the UK, an increase over the past two years. While the pandemic showcased a drop in visitors, the pre-pandemic years saw travelers from Poland making 1.5 million trips to the UK, an annual figure that stayed consistent. The new gov UK ETA for citizens of Poland will make travel to the UK seamless.

Benefits of the UK ETA for Polish Citizens

While it may seem like an additional consideration before planning a trip to the UK, Polish citizens can benefit from the UK ETA.

It is Cost Effective

It is Cost Effective

Applicants who received their UK ETA travel permit will only need to apply once in two years, allowing multiple entries to the UK for short-stay purposes of up to 6 months each time.

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. Another attractive feature of the ETA package is its quick application response time, which is usually within three business days. Australians who want to travel to the UK for short visits can do so speedily without any hassles.

Digital Process

Digital Process

The electronic travel authorization (ETA) for the UK is all processed online. This means it is digitally linked to your passport, so you will not need to show anything else when arriving in the UK.

Practical

Practical

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

UK ETA Eligibility Criteria
for Polish Citizens

The UK ETA for Polish citizens can be obtained once applicants are eligible for this permit. If you are not eligible for the ETA to the UK, your permit may be refused, so it is advised to check that the permit suits your travel purposes. There are a few things to consider before starting the application or paying any fees.

The UK ETA or UK Electronic Travel Authorization requires Polish applicants to be eligible for the following criteria.

1

Passport

Polish Citizens must have a valid passport to be eligible to apply for the UK ETA.

2

Nationality

To be eligible for this UK travel permit, applicants must be citizens of Poland or another one of the UK ETA-eligible countries.

3

No Criminal Record or Restrictions

Applicants must not have committed a crime within the UK or abroad or have been refused entry into the UK in the past. Applicants must also not have spent 12 months or more in prison as this can affect their application outcome and could lead to rejection.

4

Duration of Stay

Holders of a UK ETA cannot stay longer than 6 months per trip within the UK. If you plan to stay for a longer period, you will need to apply for a visa instead. This is a strict condition of the travel permit.

UK ETA Validity and Duration of Stay

A huge advantage of the UK ETA for Polish citizens is the multiple entry use. The travel permit is valid for two years or the validity of your passport, whichever is sooner, and can be used for multiple visits of up to six months.

UK ETA Requirements for Polish Citizens

There are certain requirements that Polish citizens need to fulfill when applying for a UK ETA. It is worth noting that the UK ETA requirements for non-European travelers are the same. When checking the UK requirements from Poland, make sure you have everything you need to obtain a UK ETA travel authorization: To apply for a UK ETA, all eligible travelers must provide some basic requirements. The following are mandatory requirements for all applicants:

Have a valid passport

You should have a Polish 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.

Valid email address

The UK ETA for Citizens of Poland is processed online and gives the applicants a digital permit to travel to the UK from Poland. The ETA decision is sent via email, so it is an important step in the application process to avoid any errors. If your application is refused or rejected, this will also be emailed to you with reasons and steps to follow.

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.

Photo

As part of the UK ETA application from Poland, you will need to upload a recent photo of yourself. This photo needs to be clear and without glare, to avoid any issues with the application process.

Applying for a UK ETA for Polish Citizens

The process of applying for a UK ETA for Australian citizens is straightforward. Australian citizens who wish to apply can do so by following these 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, which 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 Application 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 refused or rejected or you could be denied entry when arriving at the UK border control.

5

Receive Your ETA

Once you have submitted your application, you can expect to receive your ETA decision within three business days, but it is generally processed a lot sooner.

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. We will dive into this topic further in the article.

UK ETA Processing Time and Fees for Polish Citizens

Processing time You can expect to receive your ETA decision within 3 working days, but it is always best to apply ahead of time to avoid any unforeseen processing delays.

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

Traveling to the UK with an ETA: Key Details

If you are traveling from Poland 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 Poland or another eligible country, you must travel with the relevant passport that is linked to the ETA. If you hold multiple passports, you will need to apply for the UK ETA with the one you plan to use to enter the country.
  • An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK, and it is NOT a visa. You may be subject to questions regarding travel plans or length of stay in the UK, which is a normal procedure by the UK border control.
  • After being granted entry to the United Kingdom, you do not have the right to travel freely around Europe but can travel freely between England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
  • You cannot overstay your six-month visit period, 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.

FAQ

So, who needs an eta for the UK? Any country that was previously visa-exempt when traveling to the UK now needs to apply for a UK ETA, including Polish citizens. The UK ETA for EU citizens applications will be open from the 5th of March 2025, allowing travel on or after the 2nd of April 2025. If you plan to visit the UK for longer than six months you will need to apply for a traditional UK visa and it is worth noting that a UK ETA is not a visa, but rather a travel authorization.
Applying for an ETA for the UK from Poland is very easy thanks to the online process, but in some cases, your application may be refused or rejected. You can be refused due to ineligibility for the visa or if you are flagged for security issues. You cannot appeal and will need to apply for a visa instead.
In some cases, your application can be rejected, which is different from being refused. Rejection happens when you have not provided accurate information or have forgotten to fill out parts of the application form, deeming it invalid. To solve this, you will need to modify your application and reapply. To avoid this error, carefully check your information before submitting any forms or files.
Obtaining a UK ETA does not entitle you to stay in the UK for longer than six months at a time. In addition, you cannot work, live, or claim public funds while visiting the country and you cannot use this travel permit if you plan to get married in the UK.
If you apply for an ETA for the UK and are granted this permit, you are entitled to multiple visits to the UK as long as they do not exceed six months. You must travel for specific purposes only like tourism, short studies, visiting family and friends, or transiting. It is worth noting that this permit is not a guarantee that you can enter the UK, border control will make the final decision.

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