The UK government has announced the next stage of its roll out of Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) to include visitors from many more countries, including the United States and Canada, as well as from most of Europe. 

An ETA gives visitors permission to travel to the UK. By April 2025, all visitors who do not need a visa will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation to travel to the UK. 

Eligible non-Europeans can apply in advance from 27 November 2024 and will need an ETA to travel from 8 January 2025. Eligible Europeans can apply from 5 March 2025 and will need an ETA to travel from 2 April 2025. Gulf Cooperation Council visitors already need an ETA to travel to and transit through the UK.

An ETA costs £10 and permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner. The introduction of ETAs is in line with the approach many other countries have taken to border security. 

What is an Electronic Travel Authorisation?

The UK Government says that the roll out of ETAs is part of a programme of improvements to deliver a more streamlined, digital immigration system which will be quicker and more secure for the millions of people who pass through the UK border each year.

Visitors to the UK can apply for an ETA online or by downloading an app from the App Store or Google Play. Everyone travelling needs to get an ETA, including babies and children, and you can also apply for other people. However, there are no group applications – an application for each person in a group must be made separately. You cannot get a refund after you apply.

To apply for an ETA you will need to:

• take or upload a photo of the passport you will use to travel to the UK.
• scan your face with your device, if it has a camera. (Children aged 9 and under will not be asked to scan their face.)
• Take or upload a photo of yourself.
• Answer some questions about yourself.
• Pay for your application.

The UK Government recommends that, if you need an ETA, you should apply before booking your travel to the UK. A decision on an application usually takes no more than three working days, but occasionally it may take longer.

A full list of the countries that can apply for an ETA is available on the UK Government website at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-when-you-can-get-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

To find out more about how to apply for an ETA visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

If you are planning a trip with Janet Redler Travel and would like more information and advice on Electronic Travel Authorisations and how they will affect you or your group, please do contact us.