By April 2025, all non-visa nationals will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to travel to the UK. The scheme is part of the UK government’s plans to digitise the border and immigration system. This is a significant change for non-visa nationals including European and US nationals who do not currently need advance permission to travel to the UK.
What is an ETA?
An ETA is advance permission to travel or transit for those who do not currently require a visa and do not have any other UK immigration permission. An ETA is an electronic document linked to an individual’s passport, similar to the US ESTA system. An ETA will be valid for multiple trips to the UK over two years or until the passport expires – whichever is sooner. Visitors can stay in the UK for up to six months per visit.
Importantly, an ETA does not replace visas for those who require them. It is not required for British or Irish citizens or those with another form of UK immigration permission such as a visa, status under the EU Settlement Scheme or Indefinite Leave to Remain. Some travellers who are legally resident in Ireland will also be exempt – see more guidance on this here.
How to apply?
It costs £10 to apply and applications should be completed online or using the UK ETA mobile phone app. Separate applications must be submitted for all travellers including children.
Applications are typically processed within three working days.
If you get a new passport, you will need a new ETA.
Who is affected?
The ETA scheme is being rolled out in phases and is already in place for some nationalities.
Depending on your nationality, there will be a different date by which you can submit an ETA application and when an ETA becomes mandatory for UK travel:
Phase | Nationalities | ETA required | Applications open |
Phase 1 | Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE Note: nationals of Jordan now need to apply for a visit visa | November 2023 | October 2023 |
Phase 2 | All remaining non-European non-visa nationals including: United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Malaysia, Singapore, Nicaragua, Panama, Argentina, Chile, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Brunei, Hong Kong SAR, Israel, Macao SAR, Maldives, Singapore, Taiwan (eligible passports only), Tuvalu and Samoa (see full list here) Note: Colombian nationals now need to apply for a visit visa | 8 January 2025 | 27 November 2024 |
Phase 3 | All EU and EEA nationalities including: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Vatican City | 2 April 2025 | 5 March 2025 |
If you are not eligible for an ETA and do not have another permission to travel to the UK, you will need to apply for a visit visa.
It is important to note that whilst an ETA grants you permission to travel to the UK, it does not guarantee you entry.
If an ETA is refused, there is no right of appeal and unsuccessful applicants will have to apply for a visit visa which will take longer to process and requires more information about an applicant’s circumstances.