Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) latest updates
From November 2023, some of your customers travelling to the UK without a visa may need to get an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
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What is an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)?
An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a digital permission to travel to the UK. It’s for people who don’t need a visa, and it’s electronically linked to their passport. So if a customer plans to stay in the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, business, transit, short-term studies, or to visit family and friends, they’re likely to need an ETA.
For a quick overview, check out this 2-minute video created by the UK Home Office.
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Who will need an ETA?
Passengers travelling to the UK without a visa need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). If they need to, your customers can apply for an ETA now.
Nationals from the following countries can apply for an ETA now:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belize
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Canada
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (including British national overseas)
- Israel
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Macao Special Administrative Region
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Oman
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Qatar
- Samoa
- Saudi Arabia
- 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 Arab Emirates
- United States
- Uruguay
Nationals from the following countries can apply for an ETA from 5th March 2025, for travel from 2nd April 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
Please note that ETAs are required by both adults and children of all ages.
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Who won’t need an ETA?
A customer won’t need an ETA if they have either:
- A British or Irish passport
- Permission to live, work, or study in the UK
- A visa to enter the UK
If a customer lives in Ireland and isn’t an Irish citizen, they’ll need to visit GOV.UK to check they won’t need an ETA.
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How does a customer apply for an ETA?
If they need to, your customers can apply for an ETA now at GOV.UK or on the UK ETA app.
They can visit GOV.UK for updates and a full explanation of the application process.
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How long will an ETA be valid for?
An ETA will be valid for 2 years or until the passport it’s linked to expires (whichever comes first). A customer will be able to make multiple trips to the UK during this period.
If a customer has more than one passport, they’ll have to travel to the UK using the passport their ETA is linked to.
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How much will an ETA cost?
It will cost £10 per applicant.
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Does a customer still need to bring their passport and/or travel documents when travelling?
Yes, they do. Their passport, and any other relevant travel documents, will be checked by border authorities at the station before departure.
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Where can I find out more?
The information provided on this page is correct as of 8th January 2025.
For the latest updates, please visit GOV.UK.