The European Union’s ETIAS visa waiver, which has faced several delays, is now set to be launched in 2025.
Prior to that, the UK is set to launch its ETA system on January 8.
ETA, or Electronic Travel Authorisation, is a new digital registration program for travelers who are not required to obtain a visa to enter the UK.
Previously, travelers could simply board a plane and present themselves at passport control upon arrival. Now, they must obtain pre-travel authorization before flying to the UK.
Here’s what you need to know about the new regulations.
Who needs an ETA?
Soon, anyone exempt from needing a visa to visit the UK must obtain an ETA—an “Electronic Travel Authorization”—which grants pre-approval for entry before traveling. This system is similar to the U.S. ESTA, a mandatory, paid authorization for travel, with security checks completed beforehand.
The scheme was introduced to Gulf Cooperation Council nationals in 2024, and the next phase will extend it to other non-European travelers, including the six million visitors from the US, Canada, and Australia who travel to the UK annually. You can find the full list of 48 countries requiring the ETA below.
Who can Apply Now?
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
These nationalities can apply for an ETA to travel to the UK now.
For those Traveling on or After 08 January 2025
Nationalities from the following locations (including associated territories) can apply for an ETA now. These nationalities do not need an ETA to travel to the UK on or before 7 January 2025.
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Canada
- Chile
- 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
Who Can Apply from 05 March 2025
Nationalities from the following locations (including associated territories) can apply for an ETA from 5 March 2025.
They can travel to the UK with an ETA from 2 April 2025.
- 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
Starting January 8, travelers from these countries will require an ETA to enter the UK. The only exception is EU citizens, who will need an ETA beginning April 2, 2025.
Citizens of these countries who already reside in the UK do not need an ETA.
The scheme applies to “short” visits to the UK, lasting less than six months, for tourism or business purposes. There are also other ETA categories, such as for short-term study and permitted paid engagements, which are detailed on the UK government website.
Is it a visa?
While some may call it a visa, it is actually a visa waiver. Travelers whose citizenship requires them to obtain a visa to enter the UK will still need to apply for one, but they won’t need to obtain the ETA in addition.
Countries base their immigration policies on reciprocity. When the United States launched its ESTA visa waiver in 2009, it was only a matter of time before countries affected by it would implement their own similar systems.
How do I get one?
The fee is a non-refundable £10 (just under $12.50), and applications can be made through the official app available on the UK government website or directly online.
The apps—available for iPhone and Android—claim faster processing, with times of just 10 minutes. Make sure to apply through official channels rather than third-party websites, which may impose additional fees and are less likely to safeguard your data properly.
You must upload a photo of your passport, take a selfie during the application process, submit the image, and answer several questions about your travel plans. The online application takes approximately 20 minutes to complete, and you must finish it in one session—there’s no option to save your progress.
A decision is typically made within three days, though the government advises it may take longer. If you need to travel urgently, you can still go to the UK while awaiting your decision, as long as you have submitted your application before traveling.
Keep in mind that having an ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK. You will still need to go through passport control, and Border Force officials have the final authority on whether you are allowed to enter the country.
How long will it be valid?
The ETA is valid for two years and allows for multiple entries, so you can visit as often as you like. However, it will be digitally linked to your passport, meaning that if you get a new passport within those two years, the ETA will no longer be valid, and you will need to apply for a new one.
Can families get a joint ETA?
Everyone traveling to the UK, including children and infants, must have their own ETA. However, you can apply on behalf of someone else.
Does this mean I can stay as long as I like?
The ETA is designed for short stays of up to six months.
I’m just transiting through the UK. Do I still need the ETA?
Everyone entering the UK, even for a brief layover, must have an ETA. (This is similar to travelers transiting through the US, who are required to have an ESTA.) Without an ETA, you will not be permitted to pass through passport control to reach the transit area.
Does this cover me to enter Europe, too?
To enter Europe, you’ll need an ETIAS—the EU travel waiver, which has faced several delays but is now expected to begin sometime in 2025. Keep an eye out for more details as the launch date nears.
