Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for travel to the UK: who needs to apply and when?

From 27 November 2024, non-EU nationals who are planning to visit the UK who do not require a visa for their visit can now apply for their electronic travel authorisation (ETA). This group will require an ETA to visit the UK from 8 January 2025 onwards.

For the first time, nationals of United States, Canada, Australia and many other countries will require advance permission before a visit to the UK. This is part of the UK government’s continued drive to digitise the UK’s border and immigration system and to enhance security.

Please find further information here: Traveling to the U.K. next year? You need to get authorized online.

What is the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Scheme?

The UK’s ETA scheme is a mandatory requirement for digital UK Home Office authorisation before travel to or transit through the UK. It will eventually apply to all nationals (except for Irish nationals) who do not require a visa to travel to the UK or who do not already have a UK immigration status such as leave to remain.

An ETA is not the same as a visa and it is not a guarantee of admission to the UK. It is a digital permission to travel to the UK.

What is the Purpose of the ETA Scheme?

The purpose of the scheme is to understand who the people are who intend to travel to the UK. Travellers are screened in advance for any safety risks – past criminal behaviour, bad character or conduct, previous breaches of UK immigration laws and any debt owed to the NHS or Home Office – and travel is prevented for some applicants. The overall aim of the ETA scheme is to make the UK safer.

How to Apply for an ETA

There is a UK ETA app that can be used to apply for an ETA. Alternatively, applications can be made online here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta.

To make the application, you will need the passport that you will travel with, a digital photo of yourself and an email address. Questions will be asked regarding your travel intentions, your criminal record and any adverse UK immigration history. You will need to pay £10 to submit the application.

You should get a decision within 3 working days but it may take longer. If you are successful, you will receive email confirmation of the grant of your ETA, which will be valid for multiple journeys for 2 years (or until the expiration of the passport that it is linked to, if sooner). If you are refused an ETA, you will need to apply for a visa.

A Phased Approach to the ETA scheme

Phase 1

Launched in October 2023, the UK’s ETA scheme initially applied only to nationals of Qatar. Its first expansion in February 2024 brought nationals of Bahrain, Jordan*, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates into the scheme alongside Qatar (Phase 1).

Phase 2

From 27 November 2024, applications can be made from all other non-EU nationals who do not require a visa to travel to the UK. This is Phase 2 of the expansion of the UK’s ETA scheme.

From 8 January 2025 nationals of these countries must have an ETA to travel to the UK. These nationals can apply for an ETA from 27 November 2024 onwards – Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong Special Administration Region (including BNOs), Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macao Special Administrative Region, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Papa 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 of America, Uruguay.

Phase 3

The final phase of expansion of the UK’s ETA scheme, will be to EU nationals. This is Phase 3 of the expansion of the UK’s ETA scheme.

From 2 April 2025 nationals of these countries must have an ETA to travel to the UK. These nationals can apply for an ETA from 5 March 2025 onwards – 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.

(*Jordan has since been removed from the ETA scheme and added to the UK’s list of countries where nationals require a visa to visit the UK.)

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