Travellers from the United States, Canada and dozens of other countries who do not require visas to enter the United Kingdom will now need to apply for digital authorisation in order to visit or transit through the country.

The electronic travel authorisation, called ETA and linked to a traveller’s passport, costs £10 (S$17) and lasts for two years. The requirement was introduced around 2024 for nationals of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and four other Gulf nations and will extend to more than 40 visa-exempt countries starting from Jan 8. It will eventually apply to all visa-exempt travellers wishing to visit the UK, including those from the European Union.

Travellers connecting through airports in the UK who have final destinations elsewhere will also need to apply for ETA, though this policy is currently under review.

The ETA system is part of a mission to “deliver a more streamlined, digital immigration system” that will enhance border security, according to a news release from the British Home Office.

Here is what you need to know about ETA and how to apply:

It’s not a visa

The ETA is for short-term visits under six months and only for visa-exempt travellers; the full list of applicable nationalities is available online. The ETA does not replace existing visa policies, which require citizens of dozens of countries and territories to apply for and receive a visa to enter the UK.

British and Irish citizens, visa holders, and those granted permission to live, work or study in the UK do not need to apply for the ETA.

The ETA does not replace the need for passports to enter the UK.

Travellers can apply online or through an app

For travel on or after Jan 8, applications are accepted online or through the ETA app.

All travellers, including infants and children, will need ETAs, though applications can be submitted on behalf of other travellers.

To apply, you will need the applicant’s passport, photo and payment. Credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted forms of payment. You will be asked to answer a set of security questions and to provide contact information. Details about your travel plans are not necessary.

Most decisions will be rendered within three days, according to the British government, and travellers will be notified by e-mail.

The ETA is valid for multiple journeys over a two-year period, but if your passport expires earlier, so does your ETA. It is linked to your passport, which means there is no physical document.

Rejected applicants can apply again

Although ETA processing is mostly automated, a caseworker will review an application before it is rejected or refused, said Ms Kelly Chua, a director at global immigration firm Fragomen.

Those who have their ETA applications rejected can apply again, and they will be told why their application was unsuccessful. A rejection could stem from an incomplete application, such as biometrics not being captured, Ms Chua added.

Applicants who are not granted an ETA will need to apply for a visa. Reasons why applicants could be refused include previous cancellation of a visa, having unpaid litigation costs, using false documents, or a recent criminal conviction, according to the British Home Office.

Most Europeans will be required to have an ETA as of April 2

Applications for travellers from 34 European nations will open on March 5.

An exception exists for legal residents of Ireland. Those travellers do not need an ETA if they enter the UK from Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.

The ETA is distinct from Etias

The EU is planning to enact a similar programme for visa-exempt travellers, called the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, or Etias. That programme has been repeatedly delayed, and is now expected to begin some time in 2025.

This travel authorisation, required to enter 30 European countries, will cost €7 (S$9.90). This will apply to an estimated 1.4 billion people from countries including the UK, Australia and the US who can currently travel visa-free throughout much of Europe. NYTIMES

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