UK ETA for Japanese Citizens

The United Kingdom (UK) electronic travel authorization (ETA) is an electronic travel permit that is now available to Japanese citizens. This innovative immigration scheme was not required previously from Japanese citizens as they were permitted to travel to the UK with no pre-arranged permit. On November 27, 2024, 49 non-visa countries became eligible to apply for the UK ETA, including several Asian nations including Japan.

The original ETA for the UK launch date was in October 2023 and it was only available to Qatari citizens when it replaced the UK Visa Waiver scheme. In February 2024, the UK government expanded the list of countries eligible for the UK ETA to include Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. However, one of the UK ETA news updates was that  Jordan was removed from the list in September of the same year. On November 27, 2024, the list was extended to include 49 new countries. An additional 34 European countries will be added on March 5, 2025, bringing the total to 89 eligible nationalities. 

For Japanese citizens, the effective date to obtain a UK ETA is January 8, 2025. Any visits to the UK made on or before January 7 will not require an ETA. However, as of January 8, all Japanese citizens must hold a UK ETA to travel to England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Applications for the UK ETA opened for Japanese citizens on November 27, 2024.

Once they obtain their UK ETA, Japanese citizens will be able to travel to the UK for short stays of up to 6 months over the period of 2 years. They can travel with the ETA for the following purposes: 

• To engage in tourism, visit family and friends, conduct business, or enroll in a short-term study course that is less than 6 months.
• To participate in a performance or other creative work for up to three months on the Creative Worker visa concession.
• To complete a permitted paid engagement, such as speaking at a business or academic conference.
• To transit through the UK, even if they do not intend to cross the border.

The UK is a very popular destination for Japanese nationals. Out of the 13.7 million outbound visits made from Japan in 2023, the UK welcomed 225,000. With 31 direct flights between Tokyo Haneda and London Heathrow airports each week.

On average, Travelers from Japan spent an average of £1,079 per visit. Their total expenditure for 2023 was £243.3 million.

Around 62% of visits from Japan to the UK are by residents between 25 and 54, and many of them are visiting for the second or third time. Two-thirds of all visitors come from the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan Area. There are high rates of repeat visits amongst business travelers as London and Tokyo are both major financial centers.

Japanese visitors to the UK tend to prefer three-star or higher accommodations and quick service, including express check-in and breakfast buffets. Students are likely to opt for budget accommodation options. Overall, Japanese nationals are frequent visitors to the UK and make up a key part of the total visits every year.

The UK ETA for Japanese citizens is processed very quickly compared to other kinds of travel documents and visas. The official processing time for the UK ETA is three working days. However, many applicants receive a decision in just a few hours. 

The UK ETA is very affordable, with a total cost of £78. This includes the official government fee and our professional service fees. Our services include comprehensive application support and guidance. 

Japanese citizens cannot renew or extend a UK ETA. Once the ETA expires, Japanese citizens must apply for a new ETA to the UK if they wish to continue traveling to the UK for tourism, or other permitted purposes.

If they wish to live, work, or study in the UK for longer than six months, there are many suitable visa options they can apply for depending on the reason for their stay. 

If the UK ETA is not accepted, there are two other potential outcomes: rejection or refusal. 

• If the applicant’s UK ETA application is rejected, they may be eligible to reapply. They will be informed of the reason for rejection and will get the chance to submit a new application after addressing the issues.
  • A rejection means that the application was not considered valid for reasons such as missing or incorrect information or technical errors.
  • They should follow the steps outlined in the article to complete the application again.
• If the applicant’s UK ETA application is refused, there is no chance to appeal. They must apply for a visa if they still want to travel to the UK.
  • A refusal means that after reviewing the application, the applicant was found ineligible based on the information they provided for reasons such as failing to meet the eligibility criteria or being flagged for security concerns such as previous immigration breaches or serious criminal convictions.
  • Available options include the Visitor Visa, Tier 4 Student Visa (for studying), and the Skilled Worker Visa. 
  • Applicants must select the one that best suits their situation and complete the application steps accordingly.

• The ETA from the UK will be digitally linked to the traveler’s passport. All ETA holders must use the same passport for traveling to the UK as they did for applying for the ETA. This is especially true for those with multiple passports.
• The UK ETA does not guarantee entry into the UK. This is determined by the border officials at the port of entry. Border officials will make sure the passport and UK ETA are digitally linked. They may ask additional questions or request other documentation. Travelers from Japan should be willing to cooperate with these requests at the border to enter the country safely and efficiently.
• After passing border control, Japanese nationals with a UK ETA are free to enjoy their trip in the UK for up to 6 months. They can visit many tourist destinations, see friends and family, or even learn a new skill in a short study course across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.