The United Kingdom has recently made changes to its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system. Once the changes are implemented, the ETA system will include over 80 countries that are currently visa-exempt. By April 2025, all visitors who do not currently require a visa for the UK will need an ETA to travel to the UK.
As of January 8, 2025, citizens from 49 non-European countries, including the United States (US) and Canada, will be required to obtain an ETA to travel to the UK. From April 2, 2025, Citizens from 34 European countries will need a UK ETA to enter the country.
Since November 2023, the UK ETA has been a requirement for Qatari citizens traveling to the UK. In February 2024, it was extended to include citizens of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan. It should be noted that in early September 2024, Jordanian nationals were excluded and now need a UK visa instead of an ETA.
Who Needs an ETA to Visit the UK from January 2025
Nationals from 49 non-European countries will require a UK ETA to travel to the UK, starting January 8, 2025. Applications open on November 27, 2024, so applicants should have plenty of time to secure their ETA if they plan to travel at the beginning of the year.
Travelers to the UK from the following countries must obtain a UK ETA if they plan to travel on or after January 8, 2025:
- 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.
Who Needs an ETA to Visit the UK from April 2025
Nationals from 34 European countries will require a UK ETA to travel starting April 2, 2025. Applications for these nationalities open on March 5, 2025. This news marks a significant change for European travelers from these countries who were previously eligible to travel to the UK without a visa, so they should familiarize themselves with the new process before April 2, 2025, if they plan to travel on or after that date.
These countries include:
- 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, and Vatican City.
Travel Statistics to the UK
Between June 2023 and June 2024, there were 128.4 million arrivals to the UK, which was up by 11% from the previous year. This number includes British nationals returning home and foreign nationals visiting the country. Plus, it’s difficult to know how many of these arrivals were nationals that are required to obtain an entry clearance visa and how many came from visa-exempt countries.
In 2023, 3 million visitors from North America came to the UK for tourism. These visitors could pass without a prior entry clearance because they don't require visas. In contrast, there were 8.2 million visits from residents of non-North American or European countries, many of which require a visa. Of the top ten nationalities that visited the UK the most in 2023, the top seven were from European countries, while the top non-European citizens were from the US, Australia, and Canada.
With the new ETA requirements, these figures may see some change. Nationals from the US, Canada, and most European countries, among others, will transition from being visa-exempt to requiring an ETA to visit the UK. This could result in changing statistics in the coming years. Most likely, there will continue to be a high number of travelers from all destinations. Since the ETA scheme opened to Qatari nationals on October 25, 2023, until June 2024, there were 393,253 applications from just seven countries.
It will be interesting to see if and how these changes impact the number of visitors from previously visa-exempt countries. The UK is a popular destination, and obtaining an ETA for the UK is a reasonably straightforward process, so it’s unlikely that the impact will be very drastic.
UK ETA: Application Process and Key Information
- The UK ETA is a travel permit to the UK that is digitally linked to a traveler’s passport. It provides another level of security checks for all visitors coming to the country. It is intended to help prevent abuse of the UK immigration system.
- The UK ETA allows for multiple entries into the UK for stays of up to six months. The ETA is valid for two years or until the traveler's passport expires, whichever comes first.
- All ETA applicants must provide the required biographic and biometric information during the application process. This includes their name, passport number, phone number, and other information. They will also be asked to answer questions about their criminal record, if applicable, and their suitability to travel to the UK. If their application is successful, the ETA will be digitally linked to their passport.
- The standard processing time for a UK ETA is three working days. Most applications are decided upon within just a few hours. The UK ETA online application process is designed to be quick and efficient, providing a streamlined experience for travelers.