American and Canadian tourists will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to travel to the UK from January 8, 2025. Europeans, from April 2, 2025.
The UK government has unveiled the timetable for the roll-out of its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for visa-exempt travellers.
From January 8, 2025, tourists from Canada, the United States and 47 other countries and territories will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before traveling to the United Kingdom.
Citizens of European countries will need an ETA to cross the Channel from April 2, 2025.
This decision is part of post-Brexit reforms to strengthen border security and manage migration flows more effectively.
The United Kingdom launched its ETA system in November 2023 for an initial pilot phase for citizens of Qatar. In February 2024, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan (now removed from the program) joined the ETA program.
Here are the details of the roll-out of Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for travel in the UK from 2025
UK ETA extended to 49 countries from January 8, 2025
In a press release published today, the UK government announced that nationals of 49 countries and territories will be able to apply for ETA authorisation from November 27, 2024.
Visitors from these countries will be required to hold an ETA to travel to the UK from January 8, 2025.
Here is the list of the 49 countries affected by this first stage in the roll-out of the ETA:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Hong Kong (including British national overseas)
- Israel
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Macao
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia (Federated States)
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Samoa
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Taiwan (if you have a passport issued by Taiwan that includes in it the number of the identification card issued by the competent authority in Taiwan)
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- United States
- Uruguay
ETA in force from April 2, 2025 for European visitors to the UK
From March 5, 2025, the ETA system will be open to European nationals and will become a travel requirement from April 2, 2025.
From this date, tourists and business travellers from Europe will be able to apply for an electronic travel authorisation on the government portal www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta or from the mobile application “UK ETA” available on the App Store and Google Play Store.
The ETA costs £10, or around €12 / US$13. The ETA is valid for 2 years, or until the passport expires if it is less valid, and allows multiple trips to the UK during this period.
The ETA allows its holder to come to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, to visit family and friends, for business, for short-term study or to transit through the country.
European countries affected by the ETA for entry into the United Kingdom without visa from April 2, 2025:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- 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
- Vatican City
Al Venezuela e i cittadini venezuelani applica ETA? Sono un cittadino venezuelano con residenza in Italia.
Grazie della vostra attenzione.
Caro Alexis,
No, il Venezuela non è nell’elenco dei paesi esenti dal visto, quindi dovrai ottenere un ETA per viaggiare nel Regno Unito.
Séra necessário uma entrevista em algum consulado para que a permissão seja concedida ?
Estimado Nathan,
Excepto en casos muy raros, no es necesaria ninguna entrevista para la emisión de una ETA.
What about Dominican national??? Will they qualify for ETA?
Dear Khuzem,
As a UK visa is required for Dominican citizens, an ETA is not necessary.
Have any idea when it will be free access visa for domenica to uk please?
Hi,
No, sorry.
What about student groups who travel for a week to the UK?
Dear Melanie,
The Home Office states on its website that the ETA allows for “coming to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study”. Depending on the citizenship of the students and accompanying persons, an ETA could be required.
And they all have to fill in the form individuelly on his/her own? Thanks!
Every traveler with a passport, indeed.
Does the £10 charge spply to people travelling from Egypt, Morrocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Lybia, Eritrae, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon or Syria?
A UK visa is required for these nationalities
Does the £10 charge get paid by nationals from any of the following countries: Albania, Romania, Russia, Belarus, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and China?
Hi,
Apart from Romania which has a visa waiver and is therefore eligible for the £10 ETA, all other countries listed require a visa to travel to the UK and therefore do not require an ETA.