The UK government is introducing electronic travel authorisation (ETA) for millions of visitors who pass through the UK border every year.
All eligible non-European visitors will need to have an ETA and will need one to travel to the UK from 8 January 2025. This will include the 6 million travellers from the USA, Canada, and Australia. This is required for all travellers, including children and infants.
ETAs will enhance security through new technology and make the UK border more efficient, preserving the UK's appeal as a dynamic, diverse, and exciting destination to visit.
An ETA costs £10, permits multiple journeys, and lasts for 2 years or until the holder's passport expires – whichever is sooner. Once granted, ETAs are digitally linked to a traveller's passport and allow for stays of up to 6 months at a time – including both short trips and more extended stays. An ETA is not a visa, it is a digital permission to travel.
This will be extended to eligible European travellers who will need an ETA to travel to the UK from 2nd April 2025 (applications from 5 March 2025).
From April 2025, all visitors to the UK who do not need a visa for short stays and who do not already have a UK immigration status will need an ETA.
The fastest way to apply is using the UK ETA app by downloading it from the App store or Google Play. Travellers who cannot access the app can apply online at this link.
Visit this page.
