12/19/2024
This VERY IMPORTANT.... for all travel to or through the UK after January 8, 2025... you will HAVE TO HAVE an ETA!!!
Please read!!
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) factsheet – November 2024
We are making improvements to deliver a more streamlined, digital immigration system which will be quicker and more secure for the millions of people who pass through the UK border each year.
Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) are being introduced worldwide for visitors to the UK who do not currently need a visa for short stays, or who do not already have a UK immigration status.
Eligible non-Europeans can now apply for an ETA and will need an ETA to travel from 8 January 2025.
Eligible Europeans can apply from 5 March 2025 and will need an ETA to travel from 2 April 2025.
An ETA is a digital permission to travel – it is not a visa and does not permit entry into the UK – it authorises an individual to travel to the UK.
Gulf Cooperation Council visitors already need an ETA to travel to the UK.
Applying for an ETA is quick and simple. Visitors should apply in advance and find out when to do so on GOV.UK
An ETA costs £10 and permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner.
The introduction of ETAs is in line with the approach many other countries have taken to border security, including the US and Australia, and helps prevent the arrival of those who present a threat to the UK.
How do people apply for an ETA?
Information on who can get an ETA and how to apply before coming to the UK is available on GOV.UK
The easiest way to apply for an ETA is through the ‘UK ETA app’, which can be downloaded from the Google Play or Apple App Store. People can apply on GOV.UK if they do not have access to a smartphone.
Applicants usually get a decision within three working days but may get a quicker decision if they use the UK ETA app.
To apply for an ETA, applicants need to:
Pay a fee
Provide contact and passport details
Provide a valid photo, complying with our rules for digital photos on GOV.UK
Answer a set of questions
People must travel using the same passport they used when they applied for an ETA.
How does an ETA help UK border security?
Those applying for an ETA provide their biographic, biometric and contact details, and answer a short set of security questions. This will increase our knowledge about those seeking to come to the UK and prevent the arrival of those who present a threat.
What happens if someone is not able to obtain an ETA?
If a person’s ETA application is rejected, they will be told the reason and can apply again.
If a person’s ETA application is refused, they cannot appeal and instead need to apply for a visa if they still wish to seek permission to come to the UK.
How does ETA work in Northern Ireland?
The UK does not operate routine immigration controls on journeys from within the Common Travel Area, with no immigration controls whatsoever on the Ireland-Northern Ireland land border.
However, everyone arriving in the UK, including those entering Northern Ireland, continue to need to enter in line with the UK’s Immigration Rules including obtaining an ETA if they are eligible.
British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA.
Non-Irish residents of Ireland from nationalities that do not need a visa to visit the UK (e.g. European and US nationals), do not need an ETA when travelling to the UK– including Northern Ireland – from within the Common Travel Area which includes Ireland, provided they hold acceptable evidence of their residence status. Full guidance on this can be found at GOV.UK. If they are travelling to the UK from outside the Common Travel Area, they will need an ETA before they travel, once required for their nationality.
Are ETAs needed by those transiting through the UK? If so, why?
Enhancing border security is one of the Government’s key priorities. ETAs give us a comprehensive understanding of those travelling to the UK and give us the ability to prevent the travel of those who pose a threat, including those who are transiting through UK airports.
Requiring transit passengers to obtain an ETA stops people who may use connecting flights to avoid gaining permission to travel to the UK. We are keeping this under review.
How many people have applied for an ETA?
We publish data on the number of ETA applications grants and rejections on GOV.UK
Further guidance on ETAs is available on GOV.UK
