The vast majority of overseas visitors to the United Kingdom must now obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in advance.
The Home Office says it is creating “a more streamlined, digital immigration system which will be quicker and more secure for the millions of people who pass through the UK border each year”.
The government says: “Everyone wishing to travel to the UK – except British and Irish citizens – will need permission to travel in advance of coming here. This can be either through an Electronic Travel Authorisation or an eVisa.”
Most leisure and business travellers to the UK do not need a visa. But starting from 2 April 2025, almost all these overseas visitors, are now required to have an ETA. (Non-Europeans already needed the permit, but a large majority of visitors to the UK are from the EU.)
The exceptions are Irish citizens, and people who “have permission to live, work or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled status or right of abode)”.
Ministers say rolling out the scheme worldwide will “prevent abuse of our immigration system”. But under pressure from London Heathrow airport, they have dropped the bizarre requirement for passengers merely in “airside” transit for a couple of hours to obtain an ETA.
These are the key questions and answers.
What is the ETA?
The United Kingdom, in common with many other countries, is demanding more information in advance from prospective visitors before they board planes, ships or trains to Britain – or drive across the border from Ireland to Northern Ireland.
The government says: “This will ensure we have information on those seeking to come to the UK helping to prevent dangerous individuals, such as criminals, entering the UK.”
The starting point of the journey to the UK is not relevant; what counts is the traveller’s nationality.
At present a relatively small number of arrivals do not qualify for “visa-free” status. They must go through the complex and expensive business of applying for an eVisa.
Until the Electronic Travel Authorisation was launched, everyone else just turned up. But now almost every foreign visitor must obtain the ETA, with the exception of Irish citizens.
As with the US Esta scheme, and similar systems used by Canada and Australia, applications must be made online in one of two ways:
Applicants must supply a photograph and answer a set of questions on “suitability and criminality”.
The ETA is linked to the traveller’s passport. The cost is £16 payable by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
The permit is valid for repeated stays of up to six months at a time within two years or until the passport expires, whichever is sooner.
How long does an ETA take to issue?
The Home Office says: “You will usually get a decision within three working days. Most people get a much quicker decision. Occasionally, it may take longer than three working days.”
In practice, as with Australian and Canadian permits, most decisions will be made and the permit issued within minutes.
Surprisingly, you need not have been issued with the pass at the time you start a journey to the UK. The Home Office says: “You must apply for an ETA before you travel to the UK. You can travel to the UK while waiting for a decision.”
This loophole could be extremely helpful to passengers who do not realise they need an ETA when they turn up at an airport, seaport or international rail terminal to travel to the UK. They can make an application on the spot, which will enable them meet the condition for continuing their journey.
What if an ETA is declined?
It depends why the application was turned down.
- If a person’s ETA application is rejected because of an error they made, they will be told the reason and can apply again.
- If a person’s ETA application is refused because they are regarded as unsuitable, they cannot appeal.
People who have a criminal record or were previously refused entry into the UK are advised to apply for a standard visitor visa instead.
Who checks the traveller has the ETA?
For the majority of travellers, airlines and ferry companies are expected to verify the ETA status before the passenger boards a flight or ship to the UK. They will be penalised if they fail to check.
The government says: “Where an inadequately documented arrival (IDA) is brought to the UK, the carrier may be liable for a fine of up to £2,000.”
Ferries from France to Dover, Eurostar trains to London, and Eurotunnel shuttles to Folkestone have “juxtaposed controls” and UK Border Force staff will check the permit while the traveller is in Continental Europe.
The glaring gap in the UK Border is Northern Ireland. A tourist to the Republic of Ireland who inadvertently or deliberately strays into Northern Ireland is legally obliged to have an ETA, but there is no indication how their status will be checked.
Does the ETA guarantee entry to the UK?
No. The Home Office says: “An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK. You still need to either:
- see a Border Force officer.
- use an ePassport gate.”
How does the cost compare with other countries?
The £16 fee is mid-range, and the same as a US Esta currently. In ascending order of cost:
- Australia issues free eVisitor permits.
- Canada’s eta costs C$7 (£4) and is valid for up to five years.
- The US Esta costs $21 (£16) for up to two years, but is reported to be rising soon to $40 (£30).
- Europe’s much-delayed Etias scheme is set to cost €20 (£17) for up to three years.
- New Zealand’s NZeTA is NZ$17 (£8) for up to two years. But it requires a further payment of NZ$100 (£44) as the International Visitor Levy (NZ$6 more if you apply on the website rather than the app).
Commercial sites that pay search engines to rank ahead of the official site have already appeared. They include one called eta-uk.site, which appears to be based in Florida, and charges up to $99.99 (£78) on top of the fee.
Do transit passengers need an ETA?
Not if they are remaining “airside”, ie not going through the UK Border and remaining in the transit area at London Heathrow or Manchester airport.
But anyone going through passport control – for example, landing at Gatwick and later flying out from Luton – will need one.
What’s different about Irish citizens?
Besides being well behaved, polite and good looking, they are are allowed free movement to the UK under the long-standing Common Travel Agreement.
