Starting January 8, 2025, United States citizens (and citizens of 50 other countries) that are traveling to the United Kingdom are required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization unless they have a visa. 
ETA applications are done online.   

The UK Home Office has introduced ETAs worldwide for all ‘non-visa’ overseas visitors to the UK. An ETA is an entry requirement for travelers who wish to visit the UK without obtaining a traditional visa. It is a digital authorization linked to the traveller’s passport, allowing entry for specific purposes like tourism, business or transit. We highlight below the processing details, and key points relevant to the upcoming changes.

Who will need one?

The ETA will apply to the below nationals, traveling for the purpose of tourism, visiting family/friends, business, events or transit. Each traveler must apply for their own individual ETA, including infants and children. From 8 January 2025, eligible nationals from the following countries must hold an ETA to travel to the UK. Applications open on 27 November 2024.

• Antigua and Barbuda

• Argentina

• Australia

• The Bahamas

• Barbados

• Belize

• Botswana

• Brazil

• Brunei

• Canada

• Chile

• Colombia

• Costa Rica

• Grenada

• Guatemala

• Guyana

• Hong Kong

• Israel

• Japan

• Kiribati

• Macao Special Administrative Region

• Malaysia

• Marshall Islands

• Mauritius

• Mexico

• Federated States of Micronesia

• 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

• Tonga

• Trinidad and Tobago

• Tuvalu

• United States

• Uruguay

 

Nationals of Gulf States (Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan) already need an ETA to travel to UK.
 

From 2nd April 2025, eligible nationals from European countries will also be required to hold an ETA to travel to the UK. Applications open on 5th March 2025.

Irish Nationals, who are allowed free movement, are excluded from requiring an ETA as per the Common Travel Agreement. Those that hold dual nationality (British or Irish) are not required to hold an ETA but must travel on the passport that grants them exemption. Those that already have permission to live, work or study in the UK are also not required to hold an ETA. They must instead present their visa status to immigration officers upon arrival.

How does it work?

The application process is entirely online. An application can either be made through the official Government website, or through the ‘UK ETA app’.

To apply for an ETA, applicants need to:

1. Pay an online fee

2. Provide contact and passport details

3. Provide a valid photograph, complying with the rules for digital photos

4. Answer a set of questions regarding the nature of their trip

 

Processing time: Within 72 hours of successful submission. Confirmation will be sent once an approval has been issued.

Once approved, the ETA will be digitally linked to the applicant’s passport and will permit multiple trips to the UK of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner.

Passengers must travel using the same passport they used when they applied for an ETA  Please note: An approved ETA grants permission to enter the UK for short stays, but it does not  guarantee entry. Security and border checks still apply.

What if I am unable to obtain an ETA?

If an ETA application is rejected, the applicant will be notified of the reason and can reattempt submission. All fees paid online are non-refundable.

If an ETA application is refused, the applicant will not be able to appeal the decision and instead will be required to apply for a visa within their country of residency. Applications will be refused if an applicant has received criminal convictions within the last 12 months or has ever received a custodial sentence of 12 months or more. It is recommended to contact our in-house visa department should an application be rejected or refused for further guidance.

Anyone caught traveling to the UK without a valid ETA will likely be denied boarding by their carrier and may be refused future entry to the UK.

This material is current as at November 2024 and general in nature. It is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and in practice and does not constitute legal advice. While we use reasonable skill and care in the preparation of this material, we accept no liability for use of and reliance upon it by any person.