What is the ETA Scheme?

On 23 October 2023, the UK first opened the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) application process for a select few countries and, since this date, it has slowly been expanding to encompass further countries (see further below). 

The ETA is a new digital registration scheme for travellers who do not require a visa to visit the UK for short periods of time. The Home Office is clear that the ETA is not a visa, but it does authorise a person to travel to the UK. The system mirrors the ESTA scheme in place in the US and has been introduced by the Home Office to deliver a more streamlined, digital immigration system. When approved, the ETA will be attached to an individuals’ passport.

Those on an ETA can come to the UK to do the following: 

• Up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business, or short-term study.
• To complete a permitted paid engagement.
• Originally, an ETA was required even when an individual transits through the UK (i.e. changing flights in a UK airport to another destination). However, on 16 January 2025, the Home Office announced that ETA-eligible individuals would not require an ETA to transit through the UK. Please note that this is intended to be temporary, and the exemption will be kept under review.

Those on an ETA cannot come to the UK to do the following:

• Stay in the UK for longer than 6 months
• Do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person
• Claim public funds (i.e. benefits)
• Live in the UK through frequent or successive visits
• Marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership

An ETA is valid for up to two years or by the expiry of the applicant’s passport, whichever is sooner. The ETA also allows for multiple visits to the UK. Therefore, it is beneficial to apply for an ETA sooner rather than later if planning to visit the UK within the next 2 years.

Who needs an ETA?

As mentioned prior, the ETA scheme is slowly being expanded to encompass all non-visa nationals (non-visa nationals are those nationals which do not require a visa to visit the UK). This will mean that, eventually, all non-visa nationals will be required to apply for an ETA when visiting the UK. The Home Office have announced that they will be introducing this in a tiered system, as per the below. It can be seen from below, the ETA will be required for all non-visa nationals by 2 April 2025.

(a) for travel to the UK on or after 15 November 2023:

• Qatar

(b) for travel to the UK on or after 22 February 2024:

• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Oman
• United Arab Emirates
• Saudi Arabia

(c) for travel to the UK on or after 8 January 2025:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Australia
• Barbados
• Belize
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Canada
• Chile
• Costa Rica
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (including British National (Overseas))
• Israel
• Japan
• Kiribati
• Macao Special Administrative Region
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Marshall Islands
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Federated States of Micronesia
• Nauru
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• Palau
• Panama
• Papua New Guinea
• Paraguay
• Peru
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Samoa
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• South Korea
• Taiwan*
• The Bahamas
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tuvalu
• United States
• Uruguay

*Those who hold a passport issued by Taiwan that includes in it the number of the identification card issued by the competent authority in Taiwan.

(d) travelling to the UK on or after 2 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

What if you Travel Without an ETA?

Without an ETA prior to travel, the individual is highly likely to be denied boarding by the airline carrier, in the unlikely event the individual is permitted to board they will be refused entry on arrival to the UK. The Home Office have also confirmed that it will be a criminal offence to knowingly arrive to the UK without an ETA, if one is required. Therefore, it is pertinent that an ETA prior to travel, is obtained, if required. 

Please note that, as stated above, originally, an ETA was required even when an individual transited through the UK (i.e. changing flights in a UK airport to another destination). However, on 16 January 2025, the Home Office announced that ETA-eligible individuals would not require an ETA if transiting. Please note that this is intended to be temporary, and the exemption will be kept under review.

How do you apply for an ETA?

To apply for an ETA, the individual will need to use the ‘UK ETA app’, which can be downloaded from the Google Play or Apple App Store. If an individual does not have access to a smart phone, they can apply online. An individual will need the following to apply:

• The original passport that they will be travelling with - not a copy
• An email address
• A form of online payment 

The application for an ETA costs £10. Once submitted, the processing time takes approximately 3 working days, according to the relevant government website. To reiterate, once approved, the ETA is valid for either 2 years or the validity of the individual’s passport, whichever is sooner. Therefore, it is beneficial to apply for an ETA sooner rather than later if the individual is planning to visit the UK within the next 2 years.

How Irwin Mitchell Can Help

If you have any questions on the ETA process and what an ETA means for you, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Irwin Mitchell’s Immigration team using the following details: immigration@irwinmitchell.com / 0207 650 3813