UK ETA and Expired Passport: What to Do When You Get a New Passport in 2026

What happens to your UK ETA when your passport expires? This is one of the most common questions among international travellers, and the answer has important implications for your travel plans. Whether you have recently renewed your passport, are planning to renew before a trip, or your passport expired while your ETA was still valid, this comprehensive guide explains exactly how UK ETA and passport changes work in 2026.

How Is Your UK ETA Linked to Your Passport?

Your authorisation is electronically bound to your specific passport number. When you apply, the system creates a connection between the approval and the document you used. At border control, officers verify it by scanning that booklet, which automatically checks the matching ETA status in the UK immigration database.

Key fact: The UK ETA costs £20 per application, stays valid for 2 years or until the passport lapses, and allows unlimited visits of up to 6 months each. Citizens from 48 eligible countries must obtain one before travelling (Source: GOV.UK).

In other words, the approval is not transferable between documents. If the number changes for any reason, your current authorisation is no longer valid for travel, even if it has not yet reached its 2-year expiry date.

What Happens When Your Passport Expires?

Scenario 1: Passport Expires Before ETA Expiry

When a passport lapses while your ETA is still inside its 2-year window, that approval automatically becomes invalid. The rule states the validity runs for “2 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.” So once the renewed booklet arrives with a fresh number, you have to obtain a brand-new authorisation registered against it.

Scenario 2: You Renew Your Passport Before It Expires

Voluntarily renewing early — because you are running low on blank pages, the booklet is damaged, or you simply want a clean one — triggers the same outcome. The replacement carries a different number, so the earlier approval no longer counts. A separate application is required, this time drawn from the details on your latest passport.

Scenario 3: Your Passport Is Lost or Stolen

Lose the booklet, or have it stolen, and any replacement issued to you will carry a different number. The approval attached to the missing document is therefore void. Report the loss to your national authorities straight away, collect the replacement, and only then file a fresh UK ETA against it.

Scenario 4: Your Name Changes

Change your name through marriage, divorce, or any other route, and the new booklet arrives with both an updated name and a new number — which again calls for a fresh UK ETA. The old approval, registered under your previous name and number, cannot ride across to the replacement.

How to Apply for a New UK ETA After Passport Renewal

Reapplying after a renewal follows the exact same route as your first attempt:

Step 1: Download the UK ETA app or visit the online application portal at gov.uk/eta.

Step 2: Start a fresh application using your new passport details. You cannot simply edit the earlier record with the updated document information.

Step 3: Complete the form, upload a recent photo, and scan the NFC chip in your latest booklet (if using the app).

Step 4: Pay the £20 application fee. Yes, the charge lands again, even if the previous approval was still within its validity period.

Step 5: Wait for the decision. Most cases are processed within a few hours, but allow up to 3 working days. Check current processing times.

For the complete step-by-step process, see our detailed guide on how to apply for UK ETA online.

Planning Ahead: Passport and ETA Timing

Before Renewing Your Passport

If a renewal is due and you have upcoming UK travel plans, weigh the timing carefully:

• Option 1: Travel first, then renew. If your current booklet is still valid and the approval is live, finish the UK trip before you renew. That spares you a second application.
• Option 2: Renew first, then reapply. If the document lapses before your planned trip, replace it first and lodge a fresh request on the replacement. Leave enough runway for both the renewal and the processing.

Passport Validity Requirements

The UK does not demand a minimum remaining validity beyond your planned stay (unlike some countries that insist on 6 months). Even so, the document must stay valid for the entire duration of your UK visit. Should it lapse mid-trip, renew before you fly.

Timing Your Applications

Renewal speeds differ by country, from a few days to several weeks or even months. Map out your timeline like this:

• Research the passport renewal processing time where you live
• Submit the renewal paperwork with plenty of lead time
• Once the new booklet lands, reapply for the UK authorisation without delay
• Build in 3 to 5 working days for processing as a safety margin
• Only book flights and accommodation after both the renewed document and the approval are confirmed

Dual Nationality and Passport Issues

If you hold dual nationality, the authorisation attaches to just one of your passports. Key points to weigh:

• British passport holders: If one of your passports is British, you do not need a UK ETA at all. Enter on the British document.
• Irish passport holders: Irish citizens are also exempt. Travel in on the Irish booklet.
• Other dual nationals: Register the approval against whichever passport you intend to travel on. Use that same document at check-in, at the border, and on the application itself. Renewing the other passport only forces a fresh approval if that was the one carrying it.

Emergency Passport Renewal Before UK Travel

If the document lapses unexpectedly close to your departure, many countries run expedited renewal services for an extra fee. Contact your national passport office or nearest embassy/consulate to weigh the options. Some can issue emergency travel documents within 24 to 48 hours.

Once the emergency or renewed booklet is in hand, sort out the UK authorisation straight away. If time is short, many requests clear within hours — though that is never guaranteed. Travel insurance covering trip cancellation over document problems can shield you financially if delays hit.

Can You Transfer an ETA to a New Passport?

No. There is currently no mechanism to move a UK ETA from one booklet to another. Unlike some visa systems that allow transfers or carry-over between documents, the UK scheme insists on a completely fresh application whenever the passport changes. It is a deliberate security feature, keeping every approval accurately matched to the current, valid travel document.

Some travellers find this frustrating, especially when the approval was issued only days before an unexpected renewal. Sadly, no refund covers the unused portion of an authorisation voided by a passport change. That £20 charge falls due again with each application.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many travellers make preventable errors when dealing with passport renewals and UK ETAs. Here are the most common slips and how to sidestep them:

• Assuming the old approval still works: The classic error is turning up at the airport on a new booklet while assuming the authorisation from the previous one still counts. Always confirm the ETA matches the document in your hand before booking.
• Leaving the fresh application too late: Most cases clear quickly, yet some take up to 3 working days or more. Applying the day before you fly is risky. Lodge it at least 1 to 2 weeks ahead of departure.
• Presenting the wrong document at check-in: If you are holding both booklets, make certain you show the current one (matched to your valid approval) at airline check-in and border control. The wrong document will fail the ETA check.
• Not checking validity before booking: Before you book any UK trip, confirm the passport will stay valid for the whole planned stay. If it lapses mid-trip, renew first.
• Forgetting children’s documents: Parents often focus on their own renewal but overlook that a child’s booklet may also be due, each one needing its own fresh approval.

Passport and ETA Checklist for UK Travel

Run through this pre-travel checklist to make sure your paperwork is in order:

• Passport stays valid for the entire duration of your planned UK stay
• UK ETA is approved and matched to your current, valid document
• The number on the ETA confirmation matches the booklet you will carry
• Photo in the passport reasonably resembles your current appearance
• If recently renewed, the replacement approval has been applied for and granted
• Family members (including children) all hold valid documents and approvals
• ETA confirmation email or app screenshot saved on your phone for reference

Keeping Your Old Passport

After a renewal, the previous booklet usually comes back to you with a cancellation mark (often a hole punched through the cover or machine-readable zone). Stash it somewhere safe, since it records your travel history and any visas or stamps inside. Still, a cancelled document cannot be used for travel or authorisation purposes, even if the approval tied to it has not yet run out.

Official Sources & References

1. UK Government — Apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation
2. UK Government — Renew Your Passport
3. UK Home Office — ETA Factsheet
4. UK Visas and Immigration — Contact UKVI

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get a refund if my ETA becomes invalid because my passport expired?

No. The £20 ETA fee is non-refundable, even when the approval falls away before its 2-year expiry due to a passport change. The full charge applies again when you reapply on the renewed document.

Can I have two UK ETAs at the same time?

In practice, no. Since each approval attaches to a specific passport, and you can only hold one valid passport of the same nationality at once, you will only ever have one active authorisation. Dual nationals with two different passports could in theory hold one against each, but you should stick to a single document consistently for UK travel.

How soon before my passport expires should I apply for a new one?

That depends on your country’s renewal times and your travel plans. As a rule of thumb, kick off the renewal when the booklet has 6 to 9 months of validity left. That leaves ample room to receive the replacement and secure a replacement UK authorisation before any trip.

What if my passport expires while I am in the UK?

Should the document lapse during your visit, you will need to contact your country’s embassy or consulate in Britain for a replacement. You may legally stay for the period your ETA permits (up to 6 months from entry), but a valid passport is required to leave the country and enter your onward destination. Most airlines will not let you board on an expired booklet.

Is the ETA application process different for a renewal versus a first-time application?

No. The route is identical whether it is your first authorisation or a replacement after renewal. You complete the same form, provide the same information, upload a photo, and pay the same £20 fee. Your earlier ETA history may be visible to the system, but it does not affect processing.

Need a new UK ETA? Apply online using your new passport details. Check our UK ETA FAQ for more common questions and visit the official UK Government ETA page for the latest information.