UK Introduces New Travel Entry Rules: Essential Information For Visitors

UK Introduces New Travel Entry Rules: Essential Information For Visitors

This week, the UK government announced changes to entry requirements for non-visa visitors, set to take effect next year.

The new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme is comparable to the ESTA system in the United States.

**What did the government announce?**

The Home Office stated that, starting April 2, 2025, all travelers who do not need a visa to visit the UK will be required to obtain an ETA.

“Anyone wishing to travel to the UK, except British and Irish citizens, will need prior permission to enter, either through an ETA or an eVisa,” the statement said.

**What is an ETA?**

An ETA is a digital travel permit linked to the traveler’s passport, intended for those entering or transiting the UK without a visa or legal residency rights.

It costs £10 (€12 or $13) and allows multiple trips to the UK for stays of up to six months over two years, or until the passport expires—whichever comes first. Eligibility depends on nationality, and travelers can apply via the UK ETA app.

**Who needs one?**

Previously, most visitors could enter the UK with just a passport. However, changes began in November last year when the ETA was first introduced for Qatari nationals. It later expanded to citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, including children and infants from those countries.

**Who is next?**

On Tuesday, Interior Minister Yvette Cooper announced that all non-European nationalities will be able to apply for an ETA starting November 27, and it will be required for travel to the UK from January 8, 2024.

From April 2, 2025, eligible European nationals will also need an ETA to enter the UK. Applications for Europeans open on March 5, 2025. Even travelers using the UK for flight connections will need to apply.

**Who doesn’t need one?**

British and Irish passport holders, as well as those holding passports for British overseas territories, do not need an ETA. Travelers with a visa or permission to live, work, or study in the UK, including those under the EU Settlement Scheme, are also exempt.

**What can and can’t you do with an ETA?**

Visitors can use an ETA to stay in the UK for up to six months for tourism, family visits, business, or short-term studies. However, they cannot get married, claim benefits, live in the country through frequent visits, or work as self-employed individuals.

**Do other countries have similar systems?**

The Home Office noted that ETAs align with border security approaches used by countries like the US and Australia. It also mirrors the upcoming ETIAS scheme, which will apply to visa-exempt travelers to 30 European countries, including France and Germany.

**Why is the UK expanding the scheme?**

The ETA scheme is part of the government’s broader effort to digitize border and immigration controls. The Home Office claims the system will enable more thorough security checks before travelers arrive, helping to prevent immigration abuses. It is also a result of Brexit, which ended freedom of movement for European nationals.

**What has been the reaction?**

Heathrow Airport has criticized the ETA scheme, citing a 90,000 decrease in transfer passengers on routes included in the program since its introduction. The airport has called the system “devastating for our hub competitiveness” and urged the government to reconsider the inclusion of air transit passengers.