New UK Travel Entry Rules You Need to Know

UK Travel Entry Rules:

The UK government has announced that from April 2, 2025, all travelers who do not need a visa such as EU nationals, Americans, Australians, etc. will be required to obtain an ETA before traveling to the UK.

According to the Home Office, people planning to visit the UK, excluding British and Irish citizens, must apply for ETA in advance. ETA aligns with similar measures taken by other countries, such as the US and Australia.

The ETA is a digital permit linked to the traveler’s passport and is now necessary for those entering or leaving the UK without a visa or residency rights. It costs £10 (13$) and allows multiple entries for up to 6 months per stay for over two years or until the passport expires.

To qualify for an ETA, travelers need to use the UK ETA app and their eligibility depends on nationality. Previously, most travelers could enter the UK with just a passport, but this changed in November of last year when the government introduced the ETA for Qatari nationals.

This requirement was extended at the start of this year, to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, with children and infants from these countries also needing an ETA.

From November 27, travelers from all nationalities, except Europeans, will need an ETA to enter the UK from January 8, 2025.

Europeans will also need an ETA from April 2, 2025, and they can apply at the beginning of March 5, 2025. The ETA will also be required for those transiting through the UK to reach another destination.

British and Irish passport holders, as well as those with passports for British overseas territories, do not require ETA.

Likewise, individuals with visas, or those with permission to live, work, or study in the UK, including those under the EU Settlement Scheme also do not require an ETA.

Travelers can use the ETA for visits of up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business, or short-term study. However, it does not allow for marriage, claiming benefits, establishing residency through frequent visits, or self-employment.

It’s similar to the upcoming ETIAS system, which will be required for visa-free travelers going to 30 European countries and is expected to start early next year.

The 30 European countries are:

Austria • Belgium • Bulgaria • Croatia • Cyprus • Czech Republic • Denmark • Estonia • Finland • France • Germany • Greece • Hungary • Iceland • Italy • Latvia • Liechtenstein • Lithuania • Luxembourg • Malta • Netherlands • Norway • Poland • Portugal • Romania • Slovakia • Slovenia • Spain • Sweden • Switzerland

This new plan is part of the UK’s bigger step to update its border and immigration systems that make security checks more thorough and stop misuse of the system.

It’s also a response to Brexit, which ended the free movement of Europeans into the UK.

Since the ETA was introduced, Heathrow Airport has seen a drop of 90,000 transfer passengers on the routes affected. The airport says the ETA has hurt its competitiveness and is asking for a review of how it affects passengers who are just passing through.

Reference: Arab News

Also Read: What Travel Documents Do I Need For Europe in 2025?