Today, 10th September, 2024, the UK Government announced a major step towards delivering its ambitious aim to digitise the UK border and immigration system. By April 2025, all visitors who do not need a visa, except British and Irish citizens, will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) – a digital permission to travel to the UK.
Nationals of Gulf Cooperation Council countries already need an ETA to travel to or transit through the UK. All remaining nationalities will be able to apply for an ETA from later this year through a quick and simple process using the UK ETA app.
ETA is extending in two phases:
Eligible non-Europeans can apply in advance from 27 November 2024 and will need an ETA to travel to the UK from 8 January 2025.
Eligible Europeans can apply from 5 March 2025 and will need an ETA to travel to the UK from 2 April 2025.
Visitors can find out when they will need an ETA here: Check when you can get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) - GOV.UK (publishing.service.gov.uk)
An ETA costs £10 and permits multiple journeys to the UK of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner.
ETA applies to:
visits of up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study
visits of up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession Creative Worker visa concession
visits for a permitted paid engagement permitted paid engagement
transiting through the UK – including if you’re not going through UK border control
ETAs enhance the UK’s ability to pre-screen travellers and prevent those who pose a threat from boarding planes, ferries, or trains to the UK. By knowing more about travellers in advance, we can automate more border processes and improve the experience for legitimate travellers.
Further information and how to apply: www.gov.uk/electronic-travel-authorisation
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