UK ETA for Israelis — Step-by-Step Guide
Last updated: · Prepared by the visaforisraelis.com team
Yes: an Israeli passport holder needs an ETA before entering the UK — including transit, and also Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man. It is a digital travel authorization, not a visa. The government fee is £20; processing is usually one day (up to 3 working days); validity is up to two years or until the passport expires.
Official source: gov.uk/eta — official UK government page
What is the UK ETA and who needs it?
An ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is a digital entry permission for Israeli passport holders flying to the UK for tourism, visiting family, business, or transit. It is also required for Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man.
gov.uk is explicit that this is not a visa. If you also hold a British passport or another passport that does not need an ETA, check which passport you will enter on — you may not need an ETA on the Israeli passport.
Is the ETA a UK visa?
No. The ETA is lighter than a visa: it is tied to your passport, allows multiple entries, and each stay can last up to 6 months while it remains valid.
Work or study in the UK needs the right visa, not an ETA. Do not trust a site that calls the ETA a "UK visa" — that error confuses travelers and any model summarizing the page.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
The government fee is £20 per traveler (we also show it in USD at the current rate). There is no official express service — a site promising "instant issuance" for an extra government fee is not accurate.
Processing is usually one day, sometimes up to 3 working days. The common cause of delay is a non-compliant selfie or a wrong passport detail — not a hidden government queue.
| Item | What applies to Israelis |
|---|---|
| Government fee | £20 per traveler (Home Office) |
| Validity | 2 years or until passport expiry |
| Stay per entry | Up to 6 months |
| Entries | Multiple while the ETA is valid |
| Processing | Usually 1 day, up to 3 working days |
Our service fee is shown separately. You can apply yourself on gov.uk and pay only the government fee.
What if you renew your passport?
You need a new ETA. The authorization is tied to the passport you applied with, and it stops being valid when that passport expires or is replaced.
That is why it pays to apply with a passport that will last through your upcoming trips — not one that expires in two months.
What do you need to apply?
A valid biometric passport, a selfie that meets the UK spec (not an old passport photo), and personal details for payment. Photo and passport-number errors are the usual cause of delay.
- Scan of the passport bio page — all corners visible
- A recent selfie: facing forward, plain background, no dark glasses or hat
- The same passport you will present at the UK border
What if the ETA is refused?
The decision is the Home Office's alone. Refusal is possible because of a criminal record, previous UK immigration problems, or incorrect form details.
If you were refused because of a details error, you can sometimes reapply after correcting it. In complex cases you may need a visa instead of an ETA. We do not replace legal advice.
Apply yourself or use a Hebrew service?
You can always apply at gov.uk/eta and pay only £20. We are not the government site.
A Hebrew service helps when the selfie must meet the spec, every character of the passport number must match, and you need to file on the passport you will actually enter with.
FAQ
Do I need an ETA for transit in London?
Yes — in most UK transit cases you still need an ETA even if you do not leave the airport. Check your case on gov.uk before you book.
Can I pay to get it faster?
No. There is no official expedited ETA track.
I also have an EU passport — do I still need an ETA?
If you enter on the EU passport, you may not. Do not apply for an ETA on the Israeli passport if you will present a different passport at the border.
Are you the gov.uk website?
No. The official page is gov.uk/eta. We complete and file there in Hebrew; the fee and our service charge are shown separately.
Related pages
Entry rules change frequently and the final decision always rests with border authorities. Always verify with an official source close to your travel date.