UK ETA for Malaysian Citizens

The UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is an electronic permission that enables Malaysians to transit through or travel for short visits to the countries of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.

Previously, Malaysians could travel visa-free to the United Kingdom for up to six months. But as of January 8th, 2025, they will now require a UK ETA if they want to go there for short visits. Applications opened on November 27, 2024, and demand is expected to be high.

The scheme was first introduced in October 2023 as a way to strengthen border security and digitalize the entry process for short-term visitors.

It has gradually been rolled out since then to citizens of various countries, including Qatar, who were the first to be eligible to apply for it, before extending it to include nationals of the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait.

It is now been extended to Malaysians, as well as citizens of Australia, the USA, New Zealand, and Canada, as well as citizens of other non-European countries.

This digital permit will be mandatory for all visitors who do not already have a UK immigration status before traveling to these destinations or require a visa for short stays there.

It is important to note that an ETA is not a UK Visa for Malaysians. However, it does allow Malaysians to stay in the UK on a short stay for the following purposes;

• Tourism, visiting family and friends, business, or short-term study (6 months validity).
• Traveling to the UK on the Creative Worker visa concession (up to 3 months).
• Visiting the UK for a permitted paid engagement.
• Transiting through the UK – even if you’re not going through UK border control.

According to statistics, more than 12.4 million visits from Malaysia were made to overseas destinations in 2023. 156,000 of these visits were to the UK.

Overall, travelers from Malaysia forked out around US$11.1 billion on their international travels. In the UK, their total spend was £1,151 per visit totalling £179.0 million overall.

When submitting your UK ETA application, you will be asked to pay the amount of £78. 

This figure includes the fee issued by the British government and our professional service fees.

Once you have submitted your UK ETA, it will be processed and either approved, rejected, or refused within three working days.

You will receive notification of the decision via email

Unfortunately, the UK ETA cannot be extended or renewed. That said, if your passport expires before the two years are up, you must get a new ETA as a result of your existing one being linked to the previous passport you had when you applied for it.

If any Malaysians want to stay in the UK beyond the two-year period, they can apply for a traditional UK visa from Malaysia, depending on the purpose of their visit.

If you receive the unfortunate news that your application has been rejected, it will most likely be due to human error, such as not filling out your passport number or address properly or sending incorrect documentation. It could also be because your photos were not of the sufficient standard required.

Under these circumstances, this doesn’t mean you can’t ever visit the UK. You just can’t do it under the specific UK ETA application you submitted.

The UK government will advise you of the reason for their refusals, and you are free to reapply. However, you should make sure you address the reasons why your application was rejected when doing so.

If your ETA is refused, it could be for one of several reasons, such as a serious criminal record, perceived threat to the well-being of the general public, otherwise being flagged as a security concern, or prior breaches of immigration regulations, like overstaying a visa.

This decision is final, and you are not able to appeal it. So, if you receive this verdict, your only course of action is to pursue alternative options, such as applying for an appropriate type of UK visa.

If you have been approved for a UK ETA and you intend to travel to England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, there are some things you should know. They include the following:

• When you arrive in the UK, you can expect to be subjected to passport, visa, and security checks. An ETA does not guarantee Malaysians automatic entry into the UK. They must show and scan their passports at Border Control and can still be refused entry.
• You will need to pass through Border Control on every visit you make to the UK within its two-year validity period.
• Your UK ETA is digitally linked to the passport you used during your application. So, if you need to get a new one due to it being lost, stolen, or expiring, you will have to get a new ETA as well.
• If you have multiple passports due to dual nationality, you will only be able to travel to the United Kingdom with your UK ETA on the passport in which you applied for it.
• Once in the UK, you will have to abide by the laws of the country. Serious failure to do so could lead to you being arrested, deported, and having your UK visa revoked.

You should be aware that if you are willing to visit the UK for the following reasons, you can not do this using an ETA. Instead, you will need to apply for the appropriate UK visa for Malaysian nationals.

• Remain in the United Kingdom for longer than a continuous 6-month period.
• Essentially living in the UK on account of continual and successive visits.
• Claim governmental benefits or any other types of public funding.
• Work in a paid or unpaid capacity for any UK business, except for one that has been previously allowed under the Creative Worker visa concession or a permitted paid engagement.
• Register a civil partnership or get married (you’ll need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa if you want to do this).

If you have been found by the authorities to have done any of these practices, you’ll most likely be deemed to be in breach of your UK ETA terms and conditions. The ETA will be revoked, and you’ll most likely be deported.