Is ETA a UK work visa?
No. ETA is an electronic permission for visitors, not employment. Work needs Skilled Worker or another route.
Atlas de passaportes
Reino Unido travel, immigration and PR
Post-Brexit Britain uses ETA for visa-free visitors, a points-based work route for jobs, and ILR for settlement. A six-month visit cannot be switched to work.
ViagemImigração
Openness rank
#131
Entry openness
86
Isento de visto
1
Briefing updated
2026-09
Perfil do país
Capital
London
População
68.3 million
Área
244,820 km²
Moeda
British pound GBP
Língua
English
Fuso horário
UTC+00:00
Nascidos no estrangeiro
11.8 million · 2024
Quota de migrantes
17.1%
Grupos étnicos · 2011
- White87.2%
- other3.7%
- Black/African/Caribbean/black British3%
- Asian/Asian British: Indian2.3%
- mixed2%
- Asian/Asian British: Pakistani1.9%
Nascidos no estrangeiro: stock de migrantes da ONU via Banco Mundial (sobretudo 2024). Os grupos étnicos seguem as categorias publicadas de cada país. A maioria não recenseia por cor de pele. Apenas indicativo.
Vistos e vias de imigraçãoLista de isenção de vistoDocumentos e foto de passaporteVisa siteImmigration site
Para quem é este guia
For visits and study, Skilled Worker sponsorship, Global Talent, and families counting five years to ILR.
Como visitar e por quanto tempo
Many previously visa-free passports now need ETA before travel. Chinese passports usually need a Standard Visitor visa. Visits are typically six months, with no work and no in-country switch to a work visa.
Trabalho e residência
The main work route is Skilled Worker (sponsor, skill and salary floors), plus Global Talent, Graduate and Health and Care. Students may move to Graduate, policy permitting. Dependants can join subject to funds.
Residência permanente e nacionalidade
Most work routes reach ILR at five years with continuous residence, salary and English. Citizenship is often about 12 months after ILR (different for some spouses). Long absences reset the clock.
Time to PR：Usually 5 years; some 3; long residence 10
Como entram passaportes populares
FAQ
Can a visitor switch to a work visa in the UK?
Usually no. Visitors leave; a licensed sponsor applies, then you re-enter in the new category.
Does a Chinese passport need a visa?
On this site’s matrix the result is “Visto necessário”. confirm length of stay with the destination. The port and mission are authoritative.
Does a US passport need a visa?
On this site’s matrix the result is “eTA”. typical stay on the matrix is 180 days. The port and mission are authoritative.
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CanadáHandbooks summarise public sources so you can cross-check the visa matrix and policy playbooks. They are not legal advice. Quotas, stay lengths and visa-free lists move — confirm with the destination government and its missions before you travel or file.