Citizens of 48 visa-exempt countries can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to travel to the UK today, but this will become an entry requirement from 8 January 2025.

Today marks an important milestone for non-EU travellers exempt from visas to enter the United Kingdom. Since 27 November 2024, tourists and business travellers from 48 non-EU countries can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for their upcoming trip to the UK.

The ETA is a digital authorisation designed to enhance security while facilitating international travel. Inspired by similar schemes already adopted in several countries, such as the US ESTA or South Korea’s K-ETA, this system allows the UK to collect advance information on travellers before their arrival.

From 8 January 2025, the ETA will become mandatory for nationals of these countries who wish to travel to the UK for tourism, to visit friends or family or to transit through British airports.

Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Seema Malhotra MP, says today that “this expansion of ETA is a significant step forward in delivering a border that’s efficient and fit for the digital age. Through light-touch screening before people step foot in the UK, we will keep our country safe while ensuring visitors have a smooth travel experience.”

The 48 countries concerned by this third UK ETA expansion

Previously available only to citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the UK ETA program opens on November 27 to nationals of the following 48 countries and territories:

• Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Saint-Kitts-and-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Taiwan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United States, Uruguay.

Scheduled to be included in the ETA system due to the visa exemption status granted to its citizens since November 2022, Colombia is finally no longer among the qualified countries. The UK Government decided yesterday to reimpose a visa requirement on Colombian nationals from December 24, 2024 due to a “significant and sustained increase in asylum claims, and high rates of refusals at the border due to people travelling without the intention of visiting for a permitted purpose.”

Following this measure, Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared on X that he intends to reciprocate: “If the United Kingdom has re-established the visa requirement for the Colombian people, I must say that due to the principle of reciprocity, the Colombian government will request visas from British citizens who wish to come to Colombia.”

The final extension of the UK ETA will concern European citizens

The ETA application can be submitted on the UK government’s official website at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta. It is also possible to submit the application via the “UK ETA” mobile app, downloadable on iOS and Android.

To obtain the ETA, travelers must complete an online form, including personal details, passport and passport photo, as well as a few security questions.

The cost of the ETA has been set at £10 (around $/€13, including bank charges), and the response is usually obtained within a few hours. Once approved, the ETA is valid for 2 years and authorizes the holder to stay in the UK for up to 6 months.

The ETA scheme introduced by the UK will extend to the following 34 European countries and territories from March 5, 2025:

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

From April 2, 2025, obtaining an ETA before departure will become compulsory for all visa-exempt travellers to the UK.

A few rare ETA exemptions are granted by the UK authorities, notably for school groups from France.