The Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme was first announced in the March 2023 Statement of Changes to the immigration rules HC 1160. This post explains what the scheme is, who needs an electronic travel authorisation, and how to apply.
The relevant immigration rules are found in Appendix Electronic Travel Authorisation and Appendix ETA National List. There is also Home Office guidance.
The scheme is being implemented in phases and will eventually apply to all non-visa nationals.
What is the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme?
Visitors and those transiting through the UK who do not currently need a visa for short stays, or who do not already have an immigration status prior to travelling, will be required to obtain an electronic travel authorisation to travel to the UK.
For those familiar with travel to the United States, it is broadly equivalent to their Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) system: a fairly simple and cheap application made before travel in order to notify the government of your details and enable them to conduct security checks on you before you arrive.
A person who needs an electronic travel authorisation and does not have one will be refused boarding by the airline or, if that does not happen for some reason, will be refused entry on arrival.
If you are a national of certain countries (see the section below), you will need an electronic travel authorisation if you intend to do one or more of the following:
- Enter and stay in the UK for up to six months as a tourist, including as a business visitor or if you are studying
- Enter and stay in the UK for up to three months if you are on the Creative Worker visa concession
- Coming to the UK for a permitted paid engagement
- Transiting through the UK, even if you do not need to go through UK border control
You can enter the UK as many times as you like with a valid electronic travel authorisation; you do not need to apply for a new one each time you travel.
Who is the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme for?
The plan is for the scheme to apply to all non-visa nationals. Appendix ETA Visa National List specifies the nationalities required to obtain an electronic travel authorisation prior to travelling to the UK.
The application process first opened in October 2023 for Qatari nationals, and was rolled out further in February 2024 to include nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Jordan was subsequently removed from Appendix Electronic Travel Authorisation and added to Appendix Visitor: Visa national list, meaning that Jordanian nationals need to apply for a visa prior to travelling to the UK.
On 27 November 2024 the scheme opened to nationals of non-European countries listed in paragraph ETANL 1.1.(c) of Appendix ETA National List who are planning to travel to the UK on or after 8 January 2025. Colombia was removed from Appendix ETA Visa National List and added to Appendix Visitor: Visa national list on the same day.
The next phase will open on 5 March 2025 for European nationals planning to travel to the UK on or after 2 April 2025.
Everyone travelling is required to get an electronic travel authorisation, including babies and children.
Who does not need an electronic travel authorisation?
The guidance confirms that you will not need an electronic travel authorisation if you are a British citizen, a British Overseas Territory Citizen travelling on a British Overseas Territory Citizen passport, or an Irish citizen (except where permission to come to the UK is required because the person is subject to a deportation order, exclusion order decision, or an international travel ban). You will also not require an electronic travel authorisation if you already have permission to live, work or study in the UK, hold a valid visit visa, or are exempt from immigration control.
For a long time there was a fear that residents of Ireland that do not need a visa to be there would need to apply for an electronic travel authorisation. Thankfully, they do not. This is a really significant development that protects the Common Travel Area and the rights of non-visa nationals, particularly in the border communities in Ireland.
You will also not need an electronic travel authorisation if you are legally resident in and entering the UK from Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.
How do I make an application for an electronic travel authorisation?
Applications can be made using the UK ETA app, or online. The link to the application form, and instructions to download the app are available here.
It costs £10 per person to make the application.
Getting a decision
A decision should be made within three working days of submitting your application.
Your electronic travel authorisation will be issued electronically and you will receive an email to confirm that your application has been approved.
Your electronic travel authorisation should be linked to your passport. It is valid for a period of two years or until the expiry of your passport. You must therefore use the same passport to travel to the UK.
What if my electronic travel authorisation application is refused?
If you are refused an electronic travel authorisation, but you still want or need to travel to the UK, you will need to apply for a visa to enter the UK, such as a visitor or transit visa.
If you applied for an electronic travel authorisation under the Creative Worker visa concession, you will need to make an application for a Temporary Work – Creative Worker visa instead.
Why do we need electronic travel authorisation?
Visitors and transit passengers who do not currently need a visa for short stays, or who do not already have an immigration status prior to travelling, will be required to obtain an electronic travel authorisation as an additional security measure.
In a factsheet published in February 2024, the Conservative government said that their priority was to keep the UK safe and “strengthen the security of our border”. Part of the initiative is to make sure that everyone wishing to travel to the UK has permission to do so, and the electronic travel authorisation scheme aims to plug any gaps. The Home Office even published a news story about the scheme, framing it as a way to “bolster the border”.
In the EU, the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is due to start in 2025. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is then due to start six months after the EES. It will soon be commonplace to have obtained authorisation to travel to a number of countries worldwide, not just the UK.
This post has been updated by Rachel Whickman. We will publish further updates as the scheme is rolled out.
