For any traveler planning a trip to the UK, keeping yourself up to date on UK ETA travel requirements is vital. One of the new travel rules in 2025 that the UK is implementing is an Electronic Travel Authorization (an ETA, for short).

If you’re unfamiliar with it, an ETA is an electronic document granting you authorization to travel to the UK. After your application is accepted, this document is valid for multiple trips over the course of two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. It is important to note that an ETA does not have anything to do with new visa requirements for the UK, as visas are separate documents.

The good news is that applying for an ETA is very simple since you only need a few documents and have to answer a few questions! On this page, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about the ETA UK travel requirements and give an in-depth guide on how to apply. We’ll also answer some frequently asked questions and share our tips for making the application process as smooth as possible.

Who Needs a UK ETA?

In this section, we’re going to take a quick look at who does and who doesn’t need an ETA to travel to the UK in 2025. 

As of the start of the new year (January 2025), non-Europeans, including Americans, are required to have an ETA when going through a UK port. You can find the full list of countries that currently have a UK ETA requirement for non-European travelers on our website. 

In April 2025, UK ETA requirements will expand to include European citizens from 34 countries. A few countries included in this new wave of requirements are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, and Norway. Residents of these countries can apply for an ETA from March 5th, 2025 for traveling to the UK on or after April 2nd, 2025.The following countries can obtain an ETA to travel to the UK. The dates below indicate when they can travel to the UK and when the application opens. Many nationalities that previously traveled to the UK visa-free will now need a UK ETA to travel to the UK.

Travel date Applications open Countries

15 November 2023

25 October, 2023

Qatar was the first country whose nationals became eligible to obtain an ETA to travel to the UK, replacing the old Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) scheme.

22 February 2024

 01 February 2024

Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.

Jordan was initially included on the list but was removed from the ETA-eligible countries in September 2024. As a result, Jordanians need to apply for a visa to travel to the UK.

8 January 2025

 27 November 2024

Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macao Special Administrative Region (including British national overseas), Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Taiwan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United States, and Uruguay.

2 April 2025

5 March 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, and Vatican City.

Who Is Exempt from a UK ETA?

There are some cases where you’re exempt from needing an ETA to travel into the UK. These cases include: 

  • If you have an active UK visa.
  • If you have previously obtained permission to work, study, or live in the UK.
  • If you are a British or Irish citizen (dual citizenship is included in this category if you have a British or Irish passport OR a passport that has a certificate of entitlement).
  • If you have and are traveling with a British Overseas Territories citizen passport. 
  • If you live in Ireland and are departing from any of these locations: Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, or the Isle of Man.

Additionally, if your country is not included in either the non-European or the European lists that are currently available online, you will likely need a visa to visit the UK.

Documents Required for the UK ETA Application

As mentioned in the introduction, the requirements that you need for your UK ETA application are very simple.

Passport

Your passport is the most integral part of applying for an ETA. This is the only document you will need to go through border control, as your ETA will be linked electronically to your passport information. Ensure that your passport information is accurate and that it will remain valid for 6 months beyond your departure to the UK.

Passport

Photo

Having a recent photo of yourself is another requirement for applying for an ETA. The requirements for the photo are very similar to a passport photo. Full photo requirements can be found further down on this page.

Photo

Payment Method

Although not a document, you are required to have a valid payment method. Methods accepted include a debit or credit card, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.

Payment Method

Email Address

Last, but not least, you will need your email address. This is where you will receive updates and the final answer on your ETA application, so we recommend submitting an email that you have access to and use often.

Email Address

Information Required for the UK ETA Application

In addition to the documents we have outlined above, you will also need to fill out a questionnaire with some information about yourself. It is essential to be truthful in your answers, as you can be prosecuted or banned from the UK entry if they have found out you have given false information.

Personal Details

One of the first things you will need to fill out alongside your passport is your personal details. These include your estimated travel date, full name, date of birth, and your home address. (Note: you are not required to have a trip booked to apply for an ETA – if you do not currently have a travel date, enter roughly when you hope to travel.)

Work and Criminal History

For the next set of details, you need to fill out a little bit of your work history including if you are employed and your job title. In the following step, you will be asked about your criminal history, these questions include if you have ever been convicted of a crime, attempted a terrorist act, or have ties to terrorism.

UK ETA Photo Requirements

We went into some of the photo requirements earlier on the page, but we want to go in-depth so you are able to present the best photo possible and avoid any issues or delays in your application. 

Having the correct lighting and background in your photo is incredibly important. This photo must meet the following requirements:

  • It must be free of objects or people in the background
  • It must be taken against a plain, light-colored background
  • You must be in clear contrast to the background
  • You must look into the camera and your eyes should be visible (remove your glasses if there is a glare)

In terms of how you should present your photo, you should follow these guidelines:

  • Face forward and look directly at the camera.
  • Keep your mouth closed and have a neutral expression.
  • Keep your eyes open and visible (we recommend removing glasses if you wear them)
  • Keep hair out of your face.
  • Take off any head coverings (head coverings for medical or religious reasons are exempt from this guideline).
  • Make sure nothing is covering your face.
  • Make sure there are no shadows covering any part of your face or behind your head.

How to Apply for the UK ETA

As we’ve outlined above, applying for an ETA is incredibly simple! Below we have outlined the exact steps that you need to follow to apply for your UK ETA.

1

Fill Out Travel Information

The first step you will need to do is fill out your travel information. This includes your current nationality, your estimated arrival date in the UK, and whether you currently have any other nationalities. This section is also where you will upload your passport.

2

Fill Out Personal Details and Home Address

Next, you will submit your legal name, date of birth, email, and phone number, and submit your photo for the ETA. After that, you will fill out your home address in the section directly below.

3

Fill Out Additional Information

In this section, you will be asked a few simple questions about your work history, as well as your criminal history in any country. It is important to be as accurate as possible when filling out these sections.

It’s unlikely you’ll be rejected for something small like traffic violations, but lying about anything will likely result in a rejection. It is also important to note that you don’t have to list convictions for things that are not a crime in the UK, such as trade union memberships.

4

Pay the Fee

Next, you will pay the required fees to submit your ETA. This is the last hands-on step, as after you submit payment you simply will have to wait for the application to be processed and receive an answer!

5

Travel to the UK!

As soon as your ETA is approved, the fun part begins. Once you receive your ETA, you only need to present your passport at the UK border control as it has been automatically linked to your passport upon approval.

UK Entry Requirements

As of January 2025, the main requirement needed for most travelers to enter the UK is having a valid passport for the entirety of their stay, as well as an electronic travel authorization or a visa. 

If you’re traveling under special circumstances (I.E. you’re immigrating or are entering with a work permit) you will need to bring along the appropriate paperwork to show your status. 

The other special circumstance is traveling with children. The UK requires A: a birth/adoption certificate, B: Divorce or marriage certificates if you have a different surname than your child, or C: a letter from the parent of the child giving them permission to travel with you if you are not the parent.

FAQs

As of January 2025, an ETA is not required by Europeans to travel to the UK. However, in April 2025 UK ETA requirements are changing and Europeans will need an ETA.

With the current rules in place, an ETA grants you permission to travel into the UK for six months at a time over a two-year period.

You can apply for an ETA at any time, but you should apply at least 3 days prior to travel as that is the current maximum processing time. 

As of right now, there are no new visa requirements for the UK requiring you to also hold an ETA.

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Apply for your UK Electronic Travel Authorization today. Simply fill out the online form to get started.

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