What is the ETA? European travellers need €12 entry permit to visit the UK starting today
The UK’s Digital Journey Authorisation (ETA) system has formally expanded to European travellers.
Beginning 2 April 2025, all European guests will want ETA approval – or, for some non-EU nationals, a visa – to enter the UK.
The system grew to become necessary for travellers from the US, Canada and Australia on 8 January 2025, following its rollout final November for nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Learn on for particulars on value, validity and tips on how to get it.
What’s the ETA?
The ETA replaces the single-use Digital Visa Waiver (EVW) scheme, providing a decrease value choice with multi-entry validity.
The UK authorities notes that it’s not a visa and doesn’t allow entry into the UK. Moderately, it authorises an individual to journey to the UK.
The ETA is now required for all eligible nationalities. You’ll find the complete checklist of nations right here.
How do I apply for an ETA to enter the UK?
Most guests will be capable to apply utilizing a cell app and might count on a call emailed inside three days.
Everybody travelling wants to use, together with infants and kids, however you’ll be able to apply for different folks.
The UK authorities says its app is the quickest and best method to apply for an ETA. You possibly can obtain the ETA app from the UK authorities web site.
If you happen to can not obtain the app, you may as well apply on-line right here.
To finish the appliance, ensure you have readily available the passport you may be travelling on, an e-mail tackle and a bank card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. You’ll have to reply a set of suitability questions. You need not enter your journey particulars.
You possibly can delete the app if you’ve completed making use of. Your ETA will likely be linked to your passport digitally, and you’ll not want to indicate the rest if you enter the UK.
When to use on your ETA
The federal government says: “You will need to apply for an ETA earlier than you journey to the UK. You possibly can journey to the UK whereas ready for a call.”
Contemplating most candidates will get a call inside three days, it may be assumed you must apply at the least three forward of travelling to the UK, although you are able to do it a lot additional prematurely.
How a lot does the UK ETA value?
Just like the Digital System for Journey Authorisation (ESTA) within the US, a payment is connected to the appliance course of.
The ETA prices £10 (roughly €12 on the time of writing), rising to £16 (€19) on 9 April 2025.
How lengthy is the ETA legitimate?
An ETA lasts for 2 years. You do not want to use once more throughout this time.
You possibly can journey to the UK as many instances as you need throughout the interval of validity, however you can not keep for longer than six months on one journey. Verify the UK authorities web site for extra particulars on what you’ll be able to and can’t do on an ETA.
Observe that you will want to use for a brand new ETA for those who get a brand new passport, as your ETA is linked to it.
Will I want a visa to enter the UK?
As talked about above, the ETA is not a visa, however it does grant permission to enter the nation.
All guests who do not presently require a visa might want to get an ETA earlier than they journey. This consists of those that don’t presently have to submit any type of utility to go to the UK. US, Canadian, Australian and European residents want an ETA even for brief stays or transiting by the UK, for instance.
Travellers from nations that do not have visa-free entry agreements with the UK will nonetheless have to use for the right visa and an ETA.
If you happen to do not apply earlier than your journey, the federal government says you possibly can be fined, although no additional particulars have been given about this.
You continue to want to use in case you are transiting by the UK – even for those who aren’t going by border management.
The ETA permits you to come to the UK for six months for tourism, visits to household and mates, enterprise or brief time period examine.
You can too get an ETA as a substitute of a visa in case you are coming to the UK for as much as three months on the Inventive Employee visa concession or coming to the UK for a permitted paid engagement. Exterior of those circumstances, you’ll be able to’t use an ETA to do paid or unpaid work for a UK firm or as a self-employed individual.
Who doesn’t want an ETA?
British and Irish residents, individuals who have already got a visa or permission to reside, work or examine within the UK, these travelling with a British abroad territories citizen passport and individuals who reside in Eire and are travelling from Eire, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man need not apply for an ETA.
Why is the UK introducing the ETA scheme?
The ETA is a part of the UK’s plan to digitise its borders at UK airports by the top of 2025.
The scheme is meant to cut back queues on the border, “serving to to hurry up professional journeys to the UK”.
Facial recognition know-how might be used to make these “contactless corridors” potential, British newspaper The Instances studies. It might require worldwide travellers to submit biographic and biometric particulars, like pictures of their faces by the brand new Digital Journey Authorisation (ETA) scheme earlier than they fly.
