UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Updates
Published on: October 26, 2024
If you’re planning to travel to the UK, it’s essential to stay updated on the latest changes to the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system. The UK ETA system was announced in 2023 and was first introduced to several Middle Eastern countries to replace the Electronic UK Visa Waiver (EVW) scheme. The UK has since expanded its ETA system to include nationals from over 80 countries who currently don’t need a visa to travel to the UK and who do not hold any other UK immigration status, including European travellers.
The ETA scheme seeks to improve pre-arrival screening of non-visa nationals who intend to enter the UK as visitors. This means that nationals from currently visa-exempt countries will require an ETA to travel to the UK by April 2025, marking a tightening of immigration controls.
Specifically, starting from January 8, 2025, citizens from 49 non-European countries, including the United States and Canada, will need an ETA to enter the UK. Furthermore, from April 2, 2025, nationals from 34 European countries will also require an ETA for the UK.
In the Gulf region, citizens from Qatar were the first to benefit from the ETA system as of November 2023. The UK government extended this scheme to citizens of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan in February 2024. Previously, most Gulf nationals applied for the EVW scheme, which was more expensive than the ETA and took a longer time to process. The UK ETA has made travel to the UK cheaper and more flexible for most Gulf nationals.
However, according to the latest UK ETA news, Jordanian nationals have been excluded from the ETA scheme as of early September 2024 and will now require a visa for the UK.
Who requires a UK ETA by 2025?
January 2025: Non-European countries
Nationals from 49 non-European countries will now require an ETA to travel to the UK beginning from January 8, 2025. Nationals from these countries can start applying for an ETA from November 27, 2024.
Here’s a list of the 49 countries:
| Antigua and Barbuda | Argentina | Australia |
| The Bahamas | Barbados | Belize |
| Botswana | Brazil | Brunei |
| Canada | Chile | Colombia |
| Costa Rica | Grenada | Guatemala |
| Guyana | Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (including British national overseas) | Israel |
| Japan | Kiribati | Macao Special Administrative Region |
| Malaysia | Maldives | Marshall Islands |
| Mauritius | Mexico | Federated States of Micronesia |
| Nauru | New Zealand | Nicaragua |
| Palau | Panama | Papua New Guinea |
| Paraguay | Peru | Samoa |
| Seychelles | Singapore | Solomon Islands |
| South Korea | St Kitts and Nevis | St Lucia |
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | Taiwan (if you have a passport issued by Taiwan that includes in it the number of the identification card issued by the competent authority in Taiwan) | Tonga |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Tuvalu | United States |
| Uruguay |
April 2025: European countries
Nationals from 34 European countries will also need an ETA to visit the United Kingdom from April 2, 2025. Applications for nationals from these countries will open on March 5, 2025.
Here’s a list of the 34 countries:
| 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 |
UK ETA: Key information
Here’s vital information about the UK ETA:
Definition and purpose
A UK ETA is a digital permission that allows nationals of eligible countries to travel to the UK for short stays without needing a visa. The ETA will be digitally linked to a traveler’s passport to enhance security checks on people before they travel to the UK as visitors or temporary creative workers. Citizens of eligible countries can apply for an ETA if they plan to visit the UK for short stays of up to six months for the following reasons:
- Tourism, visiting family or friends, business purposes, or short-term studying.
- Up to three months under the Creative Worker visa concession.
- Permitted paid engagement.
- Transiting through the UK.
The ETA helps the UK government to better screen and assess travelers for any potential risks before they reach the UK border. It helps to prevent any individuals who pose a threat to public safety from entering the UK.
Validity and duration of stay
ETAs allow for multiple visits to the UK for stays up to six months over a period of two years, or until the holder’s passport expires (whichever is sooner).
Required documents
To apply for the UK ETA, you need the following documents:
- A valid passport.
- A personal photo
- A valid email address.
- A valid payment method such as a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
Application process
The UK ETA application process is fully online and simple to complete. Applicants will need to provide their personal and travel information, upload a copy of their passport photo page, and submit a recent personal photo. The final step involves making the required payment. While most applications are processed within three days, it is recommended that travelers apply well in advance of their intended travel date to avoid any potential delays.
UK visitor statistics: Latest trends
Overseas residents made 38 million visits to the UK in 2023, marking an increase of 6.7 million visits from 2022. According to the latest UK visa news as of June 2024, more than 388,000 ETAs have been issued to nationals of the GCC countries and Jordan since the implementation of the new electronic travel authorization system. The highest number of ETAs was issued to nationals of Jordan at over 144,000 followed by Saudi Arabia at approximately 117,000.
Conclusion
Stay up to date with the latest Electronic Travel Authorization news to learn about any changes in the opening dates of applications, requirements, and application process. With this new system in place, there may be shorter queues at the border. Additionally, with facial recognition technology, contactless digital borders may be possible in the near future when traveling to and from the UK.