By Donna Williams •
Updated: 28 Nov 2024 • 16:33 • 2 minutes read
Currently, the UK requires an Electronic Travel Authorisation, also known as an ETA to be completed by anyone entering the country from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
However, in a similar vein to the Schengen ETIAS, that will change next year, as international and European travellers will also require the document. In fact, the only visitors who will not need an ETA will be British and Irish citizens, or those who already have an eVisa.
Non-European travellers will require an Electronic Travel Authorisation from January 2025
The new regulations are being introduced in phases to minimise disruption. Starting from January 8 2025, non-European visitors will need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before their arrival. Therefore, to make it easier, applications for an ETA will be accepted from any of the following countries with effect from today: November 28 2024
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, 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 State 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, and Uruguay.
*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).
European arrivals will require an Electronic Travel Authorisation from April 2025
This requirement for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will later be extended to include European arrivals from April 2 2025. However, applications will be accepted from any of the following countries from March 5 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, and Vatican City.
ETA will be needed even for transit flights via UK airports
It s essential to remember that obtaining an ETA will still be necessary even if you re just transferring to another flight via a UK airport.
The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation is loosely based on the US ESTA and is intrinsically linked to the holder’s passport via electronic means. It will cost £10 (€12) to obtain and will be valid for two years or until passport expiry, whichever comes sooner. The ETA can be purchased via the UK government website or alternatively by downloading the specialised app which is available for both Apple and Android devices.
The process will require the applicant to answer a series of questions and provide a photograph. The UK government believes that obtaining this information prior to travel will help prevent dangerous individuals, such as criminals, from entering the UK. It is estimated that each application will take no more than three days to process, although in reality it is hoped that it will be much quicker.
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Marketer, copywriter, storyteller and President of Samaritans in Spain. They say variety is the spice of life and I am definitely loving life!
Yes, the ETA will apply to all forms of overseas travel, including ferries, Eurostar, and the Eurotunnel, as well as flights. I hope this helps.
What about UK Residency holders who are non British? Do they need to apply for ETA before travel to the UK?
According to the UK Government website, you will not need an ETA if any of the following apply: You have a visa, permission to live, work or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme),a British or Irish passport or a British overseas territories citizen passport. Here is a link to the relevant page of their website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta#who-does-not-need-aneta
I’m travelling to Gran Canaria from the uk on 10th January does this affect me
The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation is only for non-British travellers to the UK. It won t affect you if you are a British or Irish passport holder. However, Spain is a member of the Schengen Area and they are also bringing in new regulations from November this year which could affect you you may find this article useful: https://euroweeklynews.com/2024/09/14/what-are-the-schengen-countries-and-why-do-they-matter-to-uk-travellers/
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