The UK ETA, or Electronic Travel Authorisation, is a digital travel permit allowing citizens from eligible countries to enter the UK for short stays of up to 6 months. It is set to significantly alter the way travellers from across the globe enter, or transit through, the UK.
A pre-authorisation security check, initially replacing the UK visa waiver for the GCC citizens, the system has already taken effect to include nationals from 80 countries who until this point have had the advantage of visa-free travel to the UK.
All visitors, including those transiting, will need a valid UK ETA by April 2025 unless they are required to obtain a visa for the UK. The aim is to strengthen the UK border, and follows similar systems instigated by the United States, Australia, and the European Union.
The only passport holders exempt from this Electronic Travel Authorisation news are British and Irish citizens. Even European travellers will be required to obtain an ETA before arriving at the British border.
Timeline of the UK ETA Implementation
Any traveller concerned about their own situation with regards to the ETA for the UK might get comfort from the following information on the timeline of implementation of the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme.
- The initial rollout in October 2023 was reserved exclusively for citizens of Qatar, who were required to complete a UK ETA online application for travels starting November 2023.
- In February 2024, the UK ETA requirement was expanded to include the other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, and Oman), plus the Kingdom of Jordan.
- In September 2024, the rules were changed so that Jordanian passport holders now need to apply for a visa.
- January 2025 sees the rollout of the UK ETA for 49 non-European countries, as detailed below.
- From April 2025, the ETA scheme will be extended to 34 nations within Europe.
Who Needs a UK ETA by 2025?
Non-European nationals requiring a United Kingdom ETA from January 2025
From January 8, 2025, passport holders from the following non-European countries must apply for a UK ETA before travel. Applications can be made online from November 27, 2024, for arrival at the UK border on January 8, 2025, or later:
| Antigua and Barbuda | Argentina | Australia |
| The Bahamas | Barbados | Belize |
| Botswana | Brazil | Brunei |
| Canada | Chile | Costa Rica |
| Grenada | Guatemala | Guyana |
| Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (including British national overseas passport holders) | Israel | Japan |
| Kiribati | Macao Special Administrative Region | Malaysia |
| Maldives | Marshall Islands | Mauritius |
| Mexico | Federated States of Micronesia | Nauru |
| New Zealand | Nicaragua | Palau |
| Panama | Papua New Guinea | Paraguay |
| Peru | Samoa | Seychelles |
| Singapore | Solomon Islands | South Korea |
| St Kitts and Nevis | St Lucia | St Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Taiwan | Tonga | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Tuvalu | United States | Uruguay |
European countries requiring a UK ETA from April 2025
From April 2, 2025, those travelling on passports from 34 European countries will also have to obtain a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation before contemplating travel to the UK. Applications can be made online from March 5, 2025, for passport holders from the following states:
| Andorra | Austria | Belgium |
| Bulgaria | Croatia | Cyprus |
| Czechia | Denmark | Estonia |
| Finland | France | Germany |
| Greece | Hungary | Iceland |
| Italy | Latvia | Liechtenstein |
| Lithuania | Luxembourg | Malta |
| Monaco | Netherlands | Norway |
| Poland | Portugal | Romania |
| San Marino | Slovakia | Slovenia |
| Spain | Sweden | Switzerland |
| Vatican City |
UK ETA: What You Need to Know
The introduction of the UK ETA for most travellers may sound daunting. However, so long as you take heed of the information which is to follow, the majority of those travelling to or through the UK will find the scheme a stress and trouble-free one:
- Once obtained, a UK ETA is valid for two calendar years and for as many trips to the UK as needed within that period.
- UK ETAs are linked to the specific passport used for the application, so if the passport expires before this two-year period, the ETA will also expire.
- UK ETAs are valid for those seeking to remain in the UK for a maximum of six months. Anyone looking to stay longer than this six-month period is required to obtain a visa.
- UK ETAs are not just for tourism. They can also be used to enter the UK for business purposes and short periods of formal study.
- Even those using the UK as a transit point for onward travel will need to obtain an ETA.
- To apply for a UK ETA, you only require your passport data, a recent passport-style photograph, access to the internet, an email address, and a means of online payment.
- The application takes place solely online and can be paid for using a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
- The UK visa news remains unchanged. The UK ETA is being put in place for passport holders who previously had the benefit of visa-free travel and transit to the UK.
Exploring UK Visitor Numbers
In the 12 months leading up to June 2024, 128.4 million arrivals passed through the UK border. Official UK government statistics show that the majority of this figure are British nationals (55%) returning from short trips abroad, but this is still an impressive figure given the UK population stands at 68.4 million.
About 38 million visits were made to the UK by overseas visitors in 2023, marking a notable increase compared to 2022, which recorded 31.2 million visits.
In the latest UK ETA news, 393,253 applications had been made for a UK ETA until the end of June. The scheme was open to passport holders from GCC member states and Jordan when these statistics were obtained. From this figure, 388,021 UK ETAs were granted, meaning a successful application rate of 98.7%.
Those who are unsuccessful in obtaining a UK ETA at the first time of trying are free to apply again, ensuring they have responded to the issue leading to the refusal. In rare cases, they may be requested to obtain a UK visa instead.