U.K. Visitors Will Need Electronic Travel Authorisation

The electronic travel authorisation scheme will begin to apply to citizens of 48 countries from January 8.

Visitors to the United Kingdom and those transiting who currently do not need a visa for short stays, or who do not already have an immigration status before travelling, will be required to obtain an electronic travel authorisation from January 8.

The scheme will apply to travellers from 48 countries and is an application made before travel to notify the government of your details. This will enable them to conduct security checks on you before you arrive. The ETA already applies to citizens of the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries and will begin to apply to another 34 European nations from 2nd April 2025.

A person who needs an electronic travel authorisation and does not have one, will be refused boarding by the airline or if that does not happen, will be refused entry on arrival.

You will need an electronic travel authorisation if you intend to do one or more of the following:

• Enter and stay in the U.K. for up to six months as a tourist, including as a business visitor or if you are studying
• Enter and stay in the U.K. for up to three months if you are on the Creative Worker visa concession
• Coming to the U.K. for a permitted paid engagement
• Transiting through the U.K., even if you do not need to go through U.K. border control

You can enter the U.K. as many times as you like with a valid electronic travel authorisation and do not need to apply for a new one each time you travel.

The plan is for the scheme to apply to all non-visa nationals. Everyone travelling is required to get an electronic travel authorisation, including babies and children.

Who does not need an electronic travel authorisation?

You will not need an electronic travel authorisation if you are a British citizen, a British Overseas Territory Citizen travelling on a British Overseas Territory Citizen passport, or an Irish citizen. You will also not require an electronic travel authorisation if you already have permission to live, work or study in the U.K., hold a valid visit visa, or are exempt from immigration control.

You will also not need an electronic travel authorisation if you are legally resident in and entering the U.K. from Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.

How to apply for an electronic travel authorisation

Applications can be made using the U.K. ETA app, or online. It costs £10 per person to make the application. A decision should be made within three working days of submitting your application.

Your electronic travel authorisation will be issued electronically and you will receive an email to confirm that your application has been approved.

Your electronic travel authorisation should be linked to your passport. It is valid for a period of two years or until the expiry of your passport. You must therefore use the same passport to travel to the U.K.

If your electronic travel authorisation application is refused

If you are refused an electronic travel authorisation, but you still want or need to travel to the U.K., you will need to apply for a visa to enter the U.K., such as a visitor or transit visa.

If you applied for an electronic travel authorisation under the Creative Worker visa concession, you will need to make an application for a Temporary Work – Creative Worker visa instead.

The Conservative government had said that their priority was to keep the U.K. safe and “strengthen the security of our border”. Part of the initiative is to make sure that everyone wishing to travel to the U.K. has permission to do so, and the electronic travel authorisation scheme aims to plug any gaps.