UK visa-free stay: up to 6 months, with an ETA
For Hong Kong SAR, BN(O), Taiwan and Singapore passports, the UK offers one of the most generous long-haul allowances: visa-free visits of up to 6 months. Since 2025, however, "no visa" no longer means "nothing to arrange" — the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) must be approved before you fly. This guide covers the stay rules, the £20 ETA, and the mistakes that get people turned away at check-in.
Fast answer
All four passports may enter the UK as a Standard Visitor for up to 6 months per visit, tourism or short business. An approved ETA is mandatory before travel: £20, valid 2 years (or until the passport expires), multiple entries, applied only via GOV.UK or the official UK ETA app. Taiwan passports must include the personal ID number. Airside transit at a UK airport does not currently require an ETA.
| Passport | Stay | Entry method |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong SAR | Up to 6 months | Visa-free + ETA |
| British National (Overseas) | Up to 6 months | Visa-free + ETA |
| Taiwan (ID number required) | Up to 6 months | Visa-free + ETA |
| Singapore | Up to 6 months | Visa-free + ETA |
How long you can stay
Under the Standard Visitor rules, non-visa nationals are granted up to 6 months per visit for tourism, family visits and permitted short business activities. Three misconceptions cause trouble:
- Six months is not residence. No paid work; degree-level study is out of scope; living in the UK through repeated visits invites refusal or a shortened stay.
- Back-to-back maxing is noticed. Border Force may question a pattern of immediately-returning visits and grant less than 6 months.
- Ireland is a different system. The UK ETA says nothing about Ireland; check Ireland's rules separately if your trip crosses the border.
The ETA: who, cost, validity
- Who: every visa-exempt passport holder entering the UK (British and Irish citizens excepted) — that includes all HK, TW and SG passports. Rollout began January 2025 and now covers all eligible nationalities.
- Cost: £20 per applicant (the fee applies from April 2026; confirm current amount on GOV.UK).
- Validity: 2 years or until the passport expires, with multiple entries permitted.
- How: GOV.UK or the "UK ETA" app — passport photo, a selfie and a short questionnaire; decisions typically within hours to 3 working days.
- Passport-tied: a new passport invalidates the ETA; apply again and pay again.
- Transit: remaining airside does not require an ETA today; crossing the UK border (changing airports, collecting bags, an overnight in London) does. See our transit explainer (中文).
Passport validity
The UK has no six-month rule — the passport just needs to cover the visit. The practical issue is that the ETA is bound to the passport: with under two years left, your £20 buys a shorter-validity ETA. Renew first, then apply. Full comparison in our passport validity guide (中文).
Other stated requirements
- Departure evidence: be ready to show a return or onward ticket.
- Funds and accommodation: evidence you can support the trip without working.
- Genuine visitor test: ties to home — employment, family, finances — matter if the officer asks.
Trip-prep checklist
- Check the passport has enough runway, then apply for the ETA before booking anything non-refundable.
- Enter the passport details exactly as printed; a mismatch means a new application and a new £20.
- Use only GOV.UK or the official app — sponsored search results charge large "service" fees for the same outcome.
- Remember the ETA grants permission to travel, not entry — the border officer makes the final call.
London & Edinburgh stays
Compare long-stay rates once your ETA is in hand. Placeholder partner link.
Compare prices →Important
General information only, not immigration advice. BN(O) visa holders have separate arrangements — see GOV.UK. Fees and rules change; confirm via the links below.
Related reading
- Schengen visa-free stay: the 90/180 rule, EES and ETIAS
- Japan visa-free stay: 90 days for HK, TW & SG passports
- Visa-free overview 2026: ten destinations compared (中文)