06/01/2025
The ETA scheme is a form of advanced digital permission to travel to the UK, broadly equivalent to the ESTAsystem in the US. Visitors to the UK from countries in Asia, North America, South America, Africa and Oceania who previously did not require a UK Visa, will require an ETA for UK travel from 8 January 2025 onwards, and can apply for their ETA from 27th of November 2024.
UK visitors from EU/European economic area countries would require an ETA from 2 April 2025 and are able to apply for one from 5 March 2025 .
This means that those who do not need to apply for a Visa and do not already hold UK immigration status from the relevant dates above be required to obtain an ETA in advance of travelling to transiting through the UK .
To obtain an ETA, applicants will need to submit basic personal information (passport details, travel plans etc) online or through a mobile app. They will also answer questions related to security, criminal records and their travel intentions and pay the £10 application fee..
Once the ATA application has been approved, applicants should receive a decision within three working days, but they may obtain a decision more quickly. If the application is approved, the ETA will be valued for two years and will permit multiple journeys.