The UK Government has launched another phase of the Electronic Travel Authorization(ETA) for another set of travelers. All eligible non-European visitors can now apply for an ETA from November 27 as they will need an ETA to visit the UK for travels from the 8th of January, 2025. The eligible non-European countries’ citizens are not the first to benefit from this digitized development as it is an expansion of a recent ETA rollout.
Applying for ETA was first available to Qatari citizens in October 2023, and in the first half of 2024, the UK Government expanded the ETA scheme to the Gulf Cooperation Council nationals. More than 243,000 Gulf nationals got ETAs, which allowed them smooth entry into the UK on short visits. This has resulted in a more efficient border for the UK, hence the launching of another phase of ETA.
An ETA is simply a digital travel permission that is digitally linked to the traveler’s passport and allows for stays of up to six months at a time, including short trips and extended stays. However, an ETA does not replace a visa. An ETA permits multiple journeys and lasts for two years or until the user’s passport expires, depending on which one happens sooner.
The next ETA phase will be for eligible European countries. According to the government, eligible Europeans will be able to apply for ETA from March 5, 2025 and will need one to travel to the UK from April 2, 2025. Consequently, visitors to the UK who do not already have a UK immigration status and require a visa for short stays will need an ETA from April 2025.
Visitors from Canada, the USA, and Australia alone contributed £8.8 billion to the UK economy in 2023, showing how far visitors from these countries boost local businesses and the tourism industry in general. This, among other things, further raised the need for a more seamless travel experience for visitors.
By digitalizing physical immigration documents, UK ETA holders can leverage online immigration services and prevent their documents from being tampered with, misplaced, or stolen. The UK Government continues to work closely with the travel industry, from maritime to rail carriers and airlines, to ensure the smooth implementation of the digitized processes.
“This expansion of ETA is a significant step forward in delivering a border that’s efficient and fit for the digital age,” Seema Malhotra MP, Minister for Migration and Citizenship, said.
The UK Government seems to have all hands on deck to achieve its goal of a digitized border that doesn’t waste unnecessary resources, both on the visitor’s side and the country’s travel industry. As more ETA phases are launched, visitors’ contributions to the nation’s economy promise to move upward.