Your UK ETA number sits in your decision email from UKVI, in the UK ETA app, or in the GOV.UK “Check your ETA” service.
If you have a trip to Britain booked and cannot see your UK ETA details anywhere, stress levels rise fast. Airlines now check ETA status before boarding, and nobody wants a last-minute problem at the gate. The good news is that your ETA is stored in several places, and you can track it down step by step.
This guide walks through every practical way to find a UK ETA number, even when the original email seems lost. You will see where the number normally sits, how to pull it up in the official UK ETA app, how to use the GOV.UK checker, and what to do if nothing shows at all.
By the end, the question “how do i find my uk eta number?” turns into a short checklist you can follow in minutes, long before you wheel your suitcase up to the check-in desk.
Main Ways To Find Your UK Eta Number
Most travellers locate their UK ETA details in one of a handful of places. Run through this list in order. In many trips the very first option solves it.
| Method | Where To Look | What You Need Ready |
|---|---|---|
| Decision Email From UKVI | Inbox, spam, promotions and archive folders | Email address used for the ETA application |
| UK ETA App | “UK ETA” app on your phone or tablet | Same passport and device you used to apply |
| Online ETA Application Site | GOV.UK ETA application page and account | Login details and passport information |
| GOV.UK “Check Your ETA” Service | Online checker that shows current ETA status | Passport number, country, and date of birth |
| Travel Agent Or Visa Service | Booking confirmation, shared folders, or portal | Booking reference or agent account login |
| Airline Booking | Manage booking page or pre-travel checklist | Airline booking reference and surname |
| New Application | Official ETA site or app, fresh application | Valid passport, card for payment, trip plans |
What Exactly Is A UK Eta Number?
A UK ETA is a digital travel authorisation linked to your passport. It allows eligible visitors to enter the UK for short stays, usually up to six months for tourism, family visits or short business trips, as set out in GOV.UK guidance on electronic travel authorisation for non-visa nationals. Official ETA guidance on GOV.UK
When you apply through the official site or the UK ETA app, UK Visas and Immigration sends a decision email. That message includes a 16-digit ETA reference number tied to your passport details and stored in border systems. Apply for a UK ETA on GOV.UK Airlines use this digital record to check that you have permission to board a flight to the UK.
The reference number proves that an ETA decision exists for your passport. In many cases you will not need to show the number to staff at the airport, because the authorisation is attached to your passport electronically. Still, it is handy for your own records, for forms, and for peace of mind before a big trip.
How Do I Find My UK Eta Number? Step By Step
If you sit there asking “how do i find my uk eta number?” run through these steps in order. Most travellers find their answer during the email search or inside the official app.
Step 1: Search Your Email For The Decision Message
Start with the email address used in your application. Open that inbox on a computer or phone and search for terms such as “Electronic Travel Authorisation”, “UK ETA”, “UKVI” and “Home Office”. Sort by date around the day you applied and the three working days that followed.
Check spam, junk, promotions and archive folders as well. The Home Office apply page notes that the decision normally arrives within three working days and that the email contains your 16-digit ETA reference number, so it is worth digging through every folder that might hide it.
Step 2: Open The UK ETA App
If you applied using the UK ETA app, open it on the same device. Sign in with the same details you used before. In many cases your application record appears automatically, because the app stores your application history alongside your passport scan. Guidance for using the UK ETA app
Inside the app you can see the status of the application and the core details linked to it. Some screens show the ETA reference number directly, while others show status and passport details that match what sits on the GOV.UK checker and airline systems.
Step 3: Use The GOV.UK “Check Your ETA” Service
The UK government now offers a “Check your electronic travel authorisation” page. This service confirms whether an ETA exists for your passport and shows the expiry date. An ETA usually lasts for two years and covers repeat visits within that period as long as you keep the same passport.
To use the checker, enter your passport number, issuing country and date of birth exactly as shown in your document. Check your ETA status on GOV.UK The result confirms whether your current passport carries a valid ETA, even if you no longer have the original email in your inbox.
Step 4: Check Any Online ETA Account Or Portal
Some travellers apply through the official website in a browser, not just in the app. If that is your case, sign back in to the same GOV.UK account or application portal. Many services keep a record of submitted forms and decisions, which can show the ETA reference number and decision outcome.
If you used a third-party visa service, log in to their portal as well. Many agents upload copies of decision emails and reference numbers to a document folder once the authorisation arrives.
Step 5: Speak To Your Travel Agent Or Airline
If a travel agent completed the ETA application for you, they may hold the decision email. Send them your full name, date of birth and passport number and ask them to resend the confirmation. Give them time to trace the record, since they may handle a large list of bookings each day.
Airlines cannot always share the ETA number, yet they can see whether you have valid authorisation attached to your passport when you check in. A call centre agent might confirm that your status shows as cleared, which at least tells you that an ETA exists even if you cannot view the number yourself.
Finding A Lost UK Eta Number For Your Trip
Every now and then nothing turns up: no decision email, nothing in the app, and no record in the GOV.UK checker. At that point it helps to step back and make sure an application ever went through in the first place. Friends or relatives sometimes think they applied, yet the payment never finished.
Take a look at recent card or bank statements for the £16 ETA fee. If you cannot see a payment to the UK Home Office or GOV.UK, there is a fair chance the original application never completed. In that case a fresh application through the official site or app usually solves the problem faster than chasing an old, half-finished record.
When You Applied Through An Unofficial Website
Some travellers use third-party sites that look official but charge extra. If your confirmation email came from one of these services and you lose it, recovering the ETA number can be harder. Many of these firms do pass your details to the real UK system, though the trail back to your paperwork is less clear.
If you used such a site and have no email to show for it, the safest route is often to use the official GOV.UK channel and submit a new application. The official ETA factsheet points people back to GOV.UK and encourages anyone worried about scams to use the government site to verify their status. This way you know exactly where your data sits and which reference number to keep for later.
What If The GOV.UK Checker Shows No Eta?
Now and then the GOV.UK “Check your ETA” page shows no record, even when you believe you applied weeks ago. This can happen when passport details changed, such as a new passport number after a renewal, or when a typo slipped into the original form.
If your trip is close and the checker shows no valid ETA for your current passport, a fresh application with accurate details is usually the fastest way to move on. An ETA linked to an old passport number will not help you board a plane once that document expires or sits at home in a drawer.
| Problem | Action To Take | Typical Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| No Email At All | Search all folders, then apply again through GOV.UK or the app | New decision email with fresh ETA reference number |
| Email Deleted Or Lost | Use the GOV.UK checker and the UK ETA app to confirm status | ETA confirmed as valid and linked to your passport |
| Applied With Old Passport | Apply again with the new passport that you will travel with | ETA attached to the correct passport details |
| Used Unofficial Website | Check for payment, then use the official GOV.UK route if unsure | Clear record of your ETA through an official decision email |
| Checker Shows No Record | Reapply and double-check every passport field and date | New ETA created and visible in the checker |
| Name Or Date Error | Submit a new ETA with correct spelling and dates | Fresh approval that matches your passport exactly |
| Trip Only Days Away | Reapply right away through the app for quickest handling | Decision email often arrives within the standard time frame |
Do You Need Your UK Eta Number At The Airport?
Many visitors worry that they must show the ETA email or quote the reference number at the desk. In most trips the airline checks your status by scanning your passport, because the ETA is linked digitally rather than printed on paper. UK guidance for travellers explains that you do not need a printout for border staff, since the authorisation sits in electronic systems alongside your passport record.
That said, keeping a screenshot or saved PDF of your decision email on your phone never hurts. If an airline agent asks to see proof, you can show the message on the spot. This is rare, yet having that extra copy stored offline helps when mobile data is weak or you cannot open your inbox quickly.
Practical Tips So You Never Lose Your UK Eta Details Again
Once you have found your ETA number or confirmed that your passport carries a valid authorisation, take a few small steps so you do not go through the same stress before your next visit.
- Create a folder in your email account called “Travel Documents” and move the ETA email there along with flight bookings and hotel confirmations.
- Save a PDF of the ETA email to a secure cloud folder such as a password-protected drive, then make it available offline on your phone.
- Write the 16-digit ETA reference number on paper and store it with your passport at home, away from casual photos and social media posts.
- Use the same email address and phone number for all travel applications, so you always know where confirmation messages arrive.
- Before renewing your passport, make a note of any live ETAs so you can check whether you need fresh ones once the new document arrives.
These habits take only a few minutes once per trip. In return, they give you a clear record of your UK ETA history and keep that 16-digit number easy to reach whenever a form, airline or booking site asks for it.