Imposible
My photo won’t take. I’ve tried it a million different times and it either won’t upload to the app or the app won’t take it for whatever reason. There is also no line I can contact to get help with this either. Terrible experience.
This is a terrible app created to make the user do the work of immigration staff and pay a fee for doing it for them. In addition, LHR by design does not have “sterile” airside transit unlike many airports around the world and foreign transit passengers have to pay for this flaw. Typical British style of asking others to pay for them to loot in broad daylight. These thieves never reform.
I spent hours trying to use this app. It’s awful. It doesn’t accept any pictures of my passport photo page. It has no useful help. Just a total waste of technology.
If the passport chip scanning works for you (newer passport and newer smartphone), then it’s seamless
Did two applications for UK ETA. Both were completed in about 10 minutes and approved in about a minute. Very easy if you know a couple things. First, if the app says problem after taking a photo (both passport and face) retake the photo until it says it’s OK. Don’t submit a photo if doesn’t say approved. Take pictures in bright light, like near a window. And position so no reflections. For your face photo, make sure there is no shadow on a plain wall behind you. Lastly, this is the official UK gov app. It cost £20 each. Others apps often cost several times more.
Some of our government processes should take a hint from this. Very easy.
From the time I downloaded the app until my ETA was approved (that is, the entire process) took 16 minutes. That said, trying to get my passport chip scanned took 8 of those minutes and was a complete waste of time. When you get to that part just choose the ‘skip’ option and continue on.
The app is not a reliable way to submit your application. You need to take a photo of your passport and a photo of your face and if either photo is even a little off, they’ll deny your application but keep your money.
Doesn’t have to do much, but worked fine (iPhone 17).