As part of the UK Government’s plans to fully digitalise the UK border by 2025, a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system will be introduced similar to the e-visa system in the USA and Canada.
By the end of 2024, people who do not need a visa to enter the UK will need to have an ETA before they visit. This will impact millions of travellers.
What is an ETA?
An ETA is a digital permission to travel.
The ETA scheme will apply to most visitors to the UK who do not need a visa for stays of less than six months, and who do not have any other immigration status prior to travelling.
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.
- Eligible non-Europeans can apply in advance from 27 November 2024 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
- Gulf Cooperation Council visitors already need an ETA to travel to the UK (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE)
All visitors, including children, who do not need a visa for short stays or who do not have any other UK immigration status will need an ETA to travel to the UK or transit through the UK.
An ETA is not a visa, it does not permit entry into the UK – it authorises an individual to travel to the UK. You can find more information on applying for an ETA here.
A worldwide expansion of the scheme will happen throughout 2024.
Despite Home Office communications strategies, it is highly likely many will be caught out by the current, and future, changes to the UK border. We know that digitisation of our immigration systems can lead to more issues, so please make sure you are prepared for these pending changes.
The Home Office have created a video which aims to provide a quick overview of the ETA and who will need one.
Check out our other work on the Digital Hostile Environment.