Starting 2 April 2025 nearly all non-visa-holding foreign visitors to the United Kingdom , including European Union citizens, must be in possession of an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), applied for and approved in advance of their journey.
Like a range of pre-travel authorisations around the world, the UK’s ETA is being introduced by the government to provide “information on those seeking to come to the UK helping to prevent dangerous individuals, such as criminals, entering.” It is essentially an electronic pre-approval document, though it does not guarantee entry. Passport gates will still be in place and border force officers will still make the final decision regarding access to the country.
Applications take place online or via an app, in a process that entails answering security questions and giving criminal record information, providing passport details, a facial photograph, and a payment. Currently the cost is £10 (just under €12) for all, including babies and children, but it is going up from 9 April 2025 to £16 (€19), so it’s worth applying sooner rather than later. It lasts for two years or until the passport used to apply expires. Multiple trips are covered.
With an ETA, visitors can go to the UK for up to six months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study. Up to three months are allowed under the Creative Worker scheme. Entry is also allowed with an ETA for a “permitted paid engagement”, which usually applies to artists, musicians, sportspeople, legal representatives, lecturers and examiners.
However, industry leaders have expressed concerns about the potential negative impact on tourism. “This completely undermines the UK’s growth policy. Instead of making the UK an attractive place to visit, this is another barrier to tourists,” said Julia Simpson, President & CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). “Travel & Tourism contributes more than £280BN to the UK economy and supports over 4MN jobs across the country, and our businesses pay £100BN annually to the Treasury in tax revenues. “Prime Minister Starmer needs focus on growing the economy, and protecting jobs, not introduce policies that jeopardise them.”
The UK immigration system has gone digital. If you’ve been granted a visa and are coming to the UK and staying for over 6 months, for example to work or #study, then make sure to follow these three steps to create your UKVI account and access your #eVisa. pic.twitter.com/cL9yd76Rec
— UK Visas & Immigration Official (@UKVIgovuk) March 31, 2025
Citizens of the few countries that do not benefit from visa-waivers for the UK will still need to apply for an e-visa, not an ETA. But for most travellers, including those arriving for both business and leisure purposes, the ETA will suffice. The system has been in place for a range of non-European Union countries for a while, but from 2 April 2025, EU citizens too are required to apply for an ETA. Most visitors to the UK come from Europe, so this is a big change.
There are a few exceptions. After some wrangling it has been decided that those only passing through the UK “in transit” on their way to a connecting flight for example, do not need an ETA, unless they will pass through border control before getting their flight. For those who are unsure if they will remain “airside” or not, airlines can provide certainty.
Irish citizens do not need an ETA either, as they benefit from the Common Travel Area. However foreign citizens coming to the UK via Ireland do need to apply for an ETA.
