UK ETA Rejected: Your Options After a Refusal
An ETA refusal is uncommon — the approval rate is well above 95% — but it does happen, and the process for dealing with it is different from most visa systems. There's no formal appeals mechanism for an ETA refusal. Your paths forward are either reapplying (if the issue is fixable) or switching to a Standard Visitor Visa (if it isn't).
Why ETAs get refused
The refusal notice will give a general reason, rarely a specific one. Common grounds include:
- Criminal record — including old, minor, or spent offences; even a college DUI can trigger a refusal
- Prior UK visa refusal or cancellation
- Immigration violations in any country (overstays, deportation orders)
- Identity mismatch — your passport data doesn't align with records in a UK or international database
- Document issues — a corrupted chip in a biometric passport, an expired passport used by mistake
- Security database flag — name, date of birth, or document number matches a flag in SIS or another shared database
If the refusal is fixable: reapply immediately
Some refusals are caused by correctable errors: a passport number typo, a photo that failed the biometric check, or a wrong date of birth. If you can identify the error from the refusal notice, fix it and reapply straight away. There's no cooling-off period for error-based refusals. You'll pay £16 again on the new application.
If it's not fixable: the Standard Visitor Visa route
A Standard Visitor Visa (£127) is issued by UK Visas and Immigration through VFS Global or a UK visa application centre in your country. Unlike the ETA, it involves: a full application form, documentation of your travel purpose and finances, an in-person appointment with biometric capture, and a proper decision process with appeal rights. Critically — many people who are refused an ETA are granted a Standard Visitor Visa once they can provide context and documentation about their history. The ETA is automated; the visa is reviewed by a human.
What families should know
One family member's ETA refusal doesn't automatically affect the others. But it does create a real practical problem: if your partner's ETA is refused and yours are all approved, you're facing either a significant delay or replanning the trip. Get the whole family's ETAs sorted at least 4 weeks before travel — long enough to deal with a refusal without cancelling.
Our refund guarantee
When our family ETA service launches, we offer a full refund of our service fee if your application is submitted correctly by us and still refused. The £16 government fee is non-refundable from the Home Office regardless of who submits the application.
Find out what your family needs
Four quick questions. Personalised per family member. Tells you exactly what to apply for and when — UK ETA, ETIAS, EES, or nothing.
Take the quizCommon questions
Can I appeal a UK ETA refusal?
No — there is no formal appeals mechanism for an ETA refusal. Your options are reapplying (if the error is fixable) or applying for a Standard Visitor Visa through VFS Global, which does have an appeal process.
Will an old DUI affect my UK ETA?
Possibly. The UK's ETA system runs criminal record checks across international databases. Old DUIs can trigger refusal, even if the offence is spent or expunged in your home country. If you have one on record, consider applying for a Standard Visitor Visa instead of an ETA — it allows you to explain the circumstances in writing.
How soon can I reapply after an ETA refusal?
Immediately, if the refusal was due to a correctable error (typo, bad photo). For substantive refusals (criminal history, immigration flag), reapplying without changed circumstances is very unlikely to succeed. Switch to the Standard Visitor Visa route.
What is a Standard Visitor Visa and how does it differ from an ETA?
A Standard Visitor Visa (£127) is a full UK visa applied for at a visa centre in your country. It involves more documentation and biometrics, takes 3+ weeks, but has human review and a proper appeal right. It's the path for people who can't get an ETA approved.