New UK Travel Requirements for January 2025

From 8th January 2025, visa-exempt and non-European travellers must have an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK. In this article, we will explain all you need to know about the new UK ETA immigration system, who needs to apply, how to apply, and how much it costs. 

What is the new UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)? 

The UK ETA is designed to enhance security at immigration borders in the UK because it allows the UK’s border force to pre-authorise travellers to the UK before they depart. The system will carry out a number of security checks on applicants to verify their suitability for entry into the UK. Other countries around the world have similar systems, including Australia, New Zealand, and the USA. The new system comes into effect from 8th January 2025.  

Who needs to apply for a UK ETA?  

Whether you need an ETA will depend on when you plan to travel to the UK and your nationality, as stated in your passport. 

You will need to apply for a UK ETA if you are a non-European traveller without a visa (with the exception of British and Irish citizens) from 8th January 2025. This includes nationals of: 

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Grenada, Guatemala, Mexico, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sint Maarten, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, USA, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Falkland Islands, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Australia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Island, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Brunei, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Botswana, Mauritius, Seychelles, Togo, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. 

A second roll-out of the UK ETA later in 2025 means that European travellers without a visa will then need to apply for an ETA from 2nd April 2025. This includes nationals of: 

Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City, and San Marino.  

Nationals of other countries will need to apply for a visa to come to the UK. 

Who does not need to apply for a UK ETA? 

You will not need to apply for an ETA if any of the following apply: 

• You are a British or Irish national 

• You hold a valid UK visa 

• You have permission to live, work or study in the UK or the right of abode 

• You have EU settled or pre-settled status  

• You have a British Overseas Territories citizen passport 

• You reside in Ireland, and you are travelling within the common travel area to Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, or 

• You are a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship, or 

• You are transiting through the UK 

What does a UK ETA enable you to do? 

Your UK ETA will enable you to: 

• Enter the UK for up to 6 months to stay as a tourist, to visit family and friends, for business or for short-term study 

• Enter the UK for up to 3 months on the ‘Creative Worker visa’ concession 

• Enter the UK for a visitor-permitted paid engagement, and 

• Transit through the UK  

With your ETA, you will not be able to: 

• Stay in the UK for more than 6 months 

• Carry out any paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person (the only exceptions are if you plan to undertake a permitted paid engagement or event or work on the Creative Worker visa concession) 

• Claim public funds or benefits 

• Live in the UK by making frequent or successive visits, or 

• Marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership – (this requires a UK Marriage Visitor visa instead). 

How do I apply for a UK ETA? 

Here are the steps you will need to follow to apply for a UK ETA before you travel: 

Step 1) Ensure you have your passport and payment card 

Step 2) Download the UK ETA app on your mobile phone – the version you need will depend on whether you have an Apple or Android device. 

Step 3) Open the app once it is downloaded – your mobile must be connected to the internet 

Step 4) Follow the instructions provided, including: 

• Take a photograph of the photo page of your passport (the one you will use to come to the UK) using your phone’s camera. The full page must be inside the frame, including the 2 lines of numbers and letters at the bottom of the page 

• Scan your face – you will be prompted to hold your phone’s camera in front of your face until the scanning process has been completed successfully. You will need to be in even lighting and have a plain, light-coloured background. The instructions will also ask you to keep your head straight and look directly at the camera with a neutral expression 

• Enter your address, job, criminal history, and any other nationalities you have  

• Those under 18 will be asked to provide contact details for someone who has parental responsibility for them. 

Step 5) Complete the payment process – the current UK ETA fee is £10. 

What happens once you have applied for a UK ETA? 

Once your ETA application has been submitted and the payment made, you will normally receive a decision by email within 3 working days, however, it may be much faster. Once you have your ETA, you can travel to the UK. 

Here are some key points to consider: 

• ETAs last for a duration of 2 years from the date of issue. You can use your ETA as many times as you wish to enter the UK during that period. If you need to travel to the UK at short notice, you can still travel if you have applied for an ETA and are awaiting a decision 

• Your ETA is linked to your passport. You must enter the UK with the same passport you use to apply for your ETA 
• If you change your passport, you will need to apply for a new ETA.