Between October 2023 and June 2025, the UK has issued 13.4 million Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETA) to visa-exempt travelers.
The UK introduced the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system to modernize and secure its border entry procedures. Similar to the ESTA in the US and the eTA in Canada, the ETA allows British authorities to pre-screen visa-exempt travelers before they even arrive in the country.
The implementation of the ETA system took place in several stages:
- October 2023: Initial launch for selected Gulf countries, including Qatar. This first phase was designed to test the platform, the application process, and automated verification tools.
- November 2024: Expanded rollout to more nationalities, notably U.S. citizens, given the high volume of travel between the United States and the UK.
- March 2025: Major expansion to citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland, making ETAs mandatory for all trips starting April 2, 2025.
13.4 million ETA already issued by the UK
Back in May 2025, the UK reported having issued 5.4 million ETAs since the program’s launch through the end of March. However, the latest data from the Home Office shows a sharp increase.
“There have been 13.4 million ETAs granted since the introduction of the scheme in October 2023 up to the end of June 2025,” the Home Office announced today.
This surge, nearly 8 million additional ETAs in just three months, is largely due to the system’s opening to EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens since March 2025 for travel beginning April 2. These travelers now account for nearly half of all ETAs issued.
UK: Top 10 nationalities receiving ETA
Here is the breakdown of the Top 10 nationalities that obtained an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) between October 2023 and June 2025:
| Rank | Country | ETAs Issued |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 3 397 262 |
| 2 | Germany | 1 286 770 |
| 3 | France | 926 227 |
| 4 | Italy | 682 196 |
| 5 | Spain | 558 755 |
| 6 | Netherlands | 542 087 |
| 7 | Canada | 537 292 |
| 8 | Australia | 430 466 |
| 9 | Saudi Arabia | 408 146 |
| 10 | Poland | 400 993 |
The United States leads by a wide margin, followed by Germany and France. The significant presence of EU countries reflects the new ETA requirement that took effect in April 2025.
The ETA application for the United Kingdom can be made online or via the “UK ETA” mobile app (App Store | Google Play Store) and costs £16. A response is usually received within a few hours to three days. Valid for two years or until the passport expires, it allows multiple stays of up to six months.
