Electronic Travel Authorisation Scheme (ETA) Update:

The Home Office is making 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.

An ETA is a digital permission to travel and applies to those travellers from non-visa national countries who do not need to apply for a visit visa to the UK.

From 8^th January 2025, all travellers from out of the EU will need to apply for an ETA. This will extend to countries within the EU from 2 April 2025.

How much does it cost?

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.

How to apply for an ETA?

The easiest way to apply for an ETA is through the ‘UK ETA app’, which can be downloaded from the Google Play or Apple App Store. People can apply on How to apply - Apply for an ETA to come to the UK - GOV.UK if they do not have access to a smartphone.

• Applicants usually get a decision within three working days but may get a quicker decision if they use the UK ETA app.

To apply for an ETA, applicants need to do the following:

• Pay a fee
• Provide contact and passport details
• Provide a valid photo, complying with our rules for digital photos on GOV.UK
• Answer a set of questions

People must travel using the same passport they used when they applied for an ETA.

Who can apply now?

Nationalities from the following locations (including associated territories) can apply for an ETA now.

Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (including British national overseas), Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Macao Special Administrative Region, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, 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 Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay.

Who can apply from 5 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, 

Who does not need an ETA

You do not need an ETA if any of these apply to you:

• you have a visa
• you have permission to live, work, or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled status or right of abode)
• you are a British or Irish citizen
• you are travelling with a British Overseas Territories citizen passport
• you live in Ireland and you are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man

For more information contact our Immigration team on 023 9266 0261 or email info@biscoes-law.co.uk.