ETA applications for the United Kingdom are only rejected in exceptional cases. In most cases, applications for tourists and business travellers are quickly approved. Read on and find out what you can do if your application has been rejected in order to travel to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Applications submitted via e-Visa.ie are seldom rejected

European travellers are eligible for the ETA UK, a digital travel authorisation for the United Kingdom. In most cases, European tourists and business travellers receive their approved ETA within 3 days. If you apply for your ETA via e-Visa.ie, a visa specialist will check all the data and documents you have submitted for common mistakes before submitting your application to the British immigration service. This will minimise the chance that your application is rejected.

In the exceptional case that the British authorities don't grant your ETA, e-Visa.ie will give you a full refund for the costs of the ETA UK. An ETA may be rejected for several reasons. Read on to find out about the possible reasons for an ETA being rejected.

Two types of rejections

The British authorities distinguish between two types of rejections for the ETA. An application may be “rejected” if the immigration services were unable to properly establish the applicant's identity. For example, because the photo or passport scan provided was not clear enough or because certain data were incomplete or incorrect on the application form. Travellers whose application has been ‘rejected’ can apply again for a new ETA with the correct documents and information.

On the other hand, ETA applications can also be refused. This is a definitive rejection. In that case, it is not advisable to reapply for an ETA UK. This happens when the British authorities determine that the traveller in question does not meet all the requirements for the ETA, or even poses a threat to the United Kingdom national security. Travellers whose ETA application has been definitively rejected must apply for a visa in order to travel to the United Kingdom.

Reasons for rejection

If an ETA application is rejected because the immigration service cannot verify the traveller's identity, this is mostly to one of the following reasons:

• The passport data have on the application form are not correct
• The ID photo or passport scan provided don't meet all the requirements (the photo might be blurred or the text in the passport might not be clearly legible).
• The reason for travel to the United Kingdom is not tourism, business or a short study programme, but a different purpose.

If the British authorities reject an application definitively, it is difficult to ascertain the exact reason for this, as the immigration service never provides an explanation. The rejection could be related to one of the following aspects:

• The traveller has previously been convicted of a criminal offence.
• The traveller has previously violated an immigration law
• The immigration service suspects that the traveller could pose a threat to British society, for example because he/she is suspected of expressing extremist views or supporting extremist groups

If your ETA application is definitively rejected, there is no poing in appling again. You will only be able to travel to the United Kingdom with a British visa. In order to apply for a visa application, you should contact the British Embassy.