United Kingdom: Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

In brief

The UK Government has recently announced that by April 2025, all visitors to the UK, who do not need a visa, will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) – a digital permission to travel to the UK. British and Irish citizens will be exempt from this requirement. 

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 using the UK ETA app.


Contents

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 more about the ETA through the official video released by the Home Office. 

An ETA costs GBP 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:

It is very important that travellers who fall under the above categories apply for their ETA before they arrange their flights and are aware that they might not be able to check-in or board their flight to the UK without ETA. 

Further information and how to apply here.

Further details regarding these changes can be obtained by reaching out to your usual contact in our Global Immigration & Mobility team. 

Contact Information
Ying Li
Senior Immigration Specialist
London
ying.li@bakermckenzie.com
Wendy Mortimer
Senior Immigration Specialist at BakerMcKenzie
London
wendy.mortimer@bakermckenzie.com
Tomoko Sasaki
Senior Immigration Specialist at BakerMcKenzie
London
Read my Bio
tomoko.sasaki@bakermckenzie.com
Natasha Riley
Senior Immigration Specialist at BakerMcKenzie
London
natasha.riley@bakermckenzie.com

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