UK ETA Guidance for Your Golf Trip
If your Carr Golf itinerary includes Scotland, England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, you may need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation before you travel. This applies to many visitors who do not need a visa for short stays, including many travellers with passports from the USA, Canada, Australia, Europe, and certain other countries.
What you need depends on your nationality and the reason for your visit, so we recommend checking the official GOV.UK guidance before departure.
This information is provided as general guidance only and is not immigration advice. Travel requirements can change, and each guest is responsible for checking their own eligibility through GOV.UK before departure.
Action required before you travel
Please check whether you need a UK ETA as soon as your travel plans are confirmed.
If you do need one, apply only through GOV.UK or the official UK ETA app. The current application fee is ÂŁ20. Other websites may charge more, and GOV.UK advises avoiding websites that imitate government services.
Decisions usually arrive by email within one day, but you should allow up to three working days. You must receive confirmation that you have an ETA before travelling to the UK.
What is a UK ETA?
A UK ETA is a digital permission to travel to the United Kingdom. It is linked to the passport you use when you apply.
For golf travellers, this is relevant if your itinerary includes UK destinations such as Scotland, Northern Ireland, England, or Wales.
An ETA allows eligible visitors to travel to the UK for tourism and certain other short-stay purposes for up to six months. It does not guarantee entry, as border officials make the final decision when you arrive.
When this may apply to your Carr Golf itinerary
You should check your UK ETA requirement if your trip includes:
- Scotland, including destinations such as St Andrews, Turnberry, Royal Troon, Muirfield, or Prestwick
- Northern Ireland, including Royal County Down or Royal Portrush
- England or Wales
- A connection through a UK airport where you pass through border control
Each traveller needs their own ETA, including babies and children. You can apply on behalf of someone else.
Ireland and Northern Ireland: the key difference
You do not need a UK ETA for a golf trip that stays only in the Republic of Ireland.
However, you may need a UK ETA if your itinerary includes Northern Ireland, because Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. This can apply even if you fly into Dublin and travel north by road to play courses such as Royal County Down or Royal Portrush.
Your Carr Golf planner can help you identify whether your itinerary includes the UK. However, ETA eligibility and approval are managed by the UK Government, so travellers should confirm their own requirements through GOV.UK.
Who may not need a UK ETA?
You may not need a UK ETA if, for example, you:
- are a British or Irish citizen
- already have a UK visa
- have permission to live, work, or study in the UK, Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man
- are transiting through a UK airport and will not pass through border control
- live in Ireland and are travelling to the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, or the Isle of Man
This is not a complete list, so please check the official GOV.UK guidance if you are unsure.
What you need to apply
To apply for a UK ETA, you will need:
- the passport you will travel with
- an email address
- a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay
- a photo of the face of the person applying
If you apply through the UK ETA app, you will need to use your phone’s camera to scan your passport and your face. If you cannot use the app, you can apply online instead.
Already have a UK ETA?
If you already have a UK ETA, please check that it is still valid and linked to the passport you will use for travel.
An ETA lasts for two years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner. If your passport has expired or changed since you applied, you will need to apply for a new ETA.
Before you depart
We recommend completing your ETA check well in advance of travel, particularly if your itinerary includes Scotland, Northern Ireland, England, or Wales.
A little preparation before departure helps ensure a smoother start to your Carr Golf journey — from your first transfer to your first tee time.
Next step: Check whether you need a UK ETA on GOV.UK before you travel.