EU Citizens Required to Get UK Travel Authorisation in 2025

The UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will soon apply to visitors from Europe, Australia, the US and Canada.

The Home Office began rolling out the scheme last November for nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

From April 2, 2025, EU citizens travelling to the UK without a visa will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and pay a £10 fee.

This will apply to all visitors to the UK, including babies and children, without a visa, or permission to live, work or study, according to plans announced by UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

The rules will not apply to Irish citizens.

Key Dates and Requirements:

Applications for EU citizens will open on March 5, 2025.
The ETA will be mandatory for all EU citizens, including children, and must be obtained before travelling to the UK.

ETA Details:

The document will be valid for two years and will allow multiple trips, each lasting up to 60 days.
Applications will be processed within three days.

How To Apply for a UK ETA

Once your country is part of the scheme, you’ll need to complete an online application to obtain permission to enter the UK. Most applicants can use a mobile app for a quick decision, according to the government.

You'll need a valid biometric passport from an eligible country, your travel details, an email address, and a credit or debit card. Additionally, you’ll be required to answer some suitability questions.

Similar to the US ESTA system, a small fee of £10 (€11.66) applies. It’s recommended to apply a few days before your trip, with approval typically granted within 72 hours.

NON-EUROPEAN COUNTRIES THAT NEEDS UK ETA ON JANUARY 8, 2025
Argentina	Guatemala	Federated State of Micronesia	Solomon Islands
Australia	Guyana	Nauru	South Korea
The Bahamas	Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (including British national overseas)	New Zealand	St Kitts and Nevis
Barbados	Israel	Nicaragua	St Lucia
Belize	Japan	Palau	St Vincent and the Grenadines
Botswana	Kiribati	Panama	Taiwan*
Brazil	Macao Special Administrative Region	Papua New Guinea	Tonga
Brunei	Malaysia	Paraguay	Trinidad and Tobago,
Canada	Maldives	Peru	Tuvalu
Chile	Marshall Islands	Samoa	United States
Colombia	Mauritius	Seychelles	Uruguay
Costa Rica

*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).

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