https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/electronic-travel-authorisation-eta-factsheet-september-2024/
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) factsheet – September 2024
We are 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.
We are introducing ETAs worldwide for visitors to the UK who do not currently need a visa for short stays, or who do not already have a UK immigration status prior to travelling – an ETA is a digital permission to travel.
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 the UK.
Visitors can find out when they need an ETA on GOV.UK.
ETAs are digitally linked to the applicant’s passport and ensure more robust security checks are carried out on visitors before they begin their journey to the UK, to help prevent abuse of our immigration system.
An ETA costs £10 and permits multiple journeys to the UK of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner.
The cost of an ETA is competitive and comparable with similar schemes by international partners. As with all our fees, we are keeping the cost of an ETA under review.
How do people apply for an ETA?
- Information on who can get an ETA and how to apply before coming to the UK is available on UK
- 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 UK if they do not have access to a smartphone.
- The application process is quick and simple. 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:
- 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.
How does an ETA help UK border security?
- Those applying for an ETA provide their biographic, biometric and contact details, and answer a short set of security questions. This will increase our knowledge about those seeking to come to the UK and prevent the arrival of those who present a threat.
What happens if someone is not able to obtain an ETA?
- If a person’s ETA application is rejected, they will be told the reason and can apply again.
- If a person’s ETA application is refused, they cannot appeal and instead need to apply for a visa if they still wish to seek permission to come to the UK.
How does ETA work in the context of the Ireland-Northern Ireland border?
- The UK Government remains committed to the principles of the Common Travel Area (CTA) and British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA.
- The UK does not operate routine immigration controls on journeys from within the CTA, with no immigration controls whatsoever on the Ireland-Northern Ireland land border.
- All people arriving in the UK, including those crossing the land border into Northern Ireland, continue to need to enter in line with the UK’s immigration framework, including the need to obtain an ETA once required.
- People who are legally resident in Ireland and from a nationality that does not usually need a visa to visit the UK (e.g. European and US nationals), do not need an ETA when travelling to the UK from within the CTA, provided they hold acceptable evidence of their residence status. Full guidance on this can be found at GOV.UK
- Non-Irish residents of Ireland who are travelling to the UK from outside of the CTA need an ETA before they travel, once required for their nationality.
Are ETAs needed by those transiting through the UK? If so, why?
- Enhancing border security is one of the Government’s key priorities. ETAs give us a comprehensive understanding of those travelling to the UK and give us the ability to prevent the travel of those who pose a threat, including those who are transiting through UK airports.
- Requiring transit passengers to obtain an ETA stops people who may use connecting flights to avoid gaining permission to travel to the UK. We are keeping this under review.
How many people have applied for an ETA?
- We publish data on the number of ETA applications grants and rejections on UK
Further guidance on ETAs is available on GOV.UK