12/17/2024
🚨NEW POLICY TO TRAVELING TO THE UNITED KINGDOM 🚨
United Kingdom Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) System
ETA required for travel to the UK starting January 8, 2025. Americans can apply in advance starting November 27, 2024.
What is an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA): An ETA is an advance travel permission required by specified non-visa nationals when coming to the UK as a visitor or transiting the UK, or as a Creative Worker seeking entry to the UK pursuant to paragraph Appendix Temporary Work - Creative Worker at CRV 3.2.
Each traveler must get their own ETA, including children and babies. An ETA provides an individual with permission to travel to the UK. It is not permission to enter the UK and the holder of an ETA will need to obtain permission to enter on arrival in the UK. The requirement is applicable to all routes and modes of entry into the UK, including those coming through the juxtaposed controls or travelling via the Common Travel Area (CTA).
Who does not need an ETA: An ETA is not required for individuals who are one of the following:
British citizens
Irish citizens (except those that require permission to come to the UK as they are subject to a deportation order, exclusion order decision, or an international travel ban)
a British Overseas Territory Citizen (BOTC) travelling on a BOTC passport
a person with entry clearance or permission to enter or stay in the UK, including those who are settled
a person who is exempt from immigration control
Third country non-visa nationals lawfully resident in Ireland and travelling to the UK to visit from elsewhere in the CTA also do not require an ETA.
ETA: Staged Rollout: The ETA scheme will be implemented in a phased manner on the basis of nationality. An ETA is required by specified non-visa nationals in advance of travel to the UK.
The ETA application process opened on October 25, 2023, for Qatari nationals for travel to the UK on or after November 15, 2023.
The ETA application process then opened on February 1, 2024, for nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates for travel to the UK on or after February 22, 2024.
The ETA application process will open on November 27, 2024, for all remaining non-visa nationals, except for Europeans, for travel to the UK on or after January 8, 2025.
The ETA application process will then open on March 5,2025, for European nationals for travel to the UK on or after April 2, 2025.