Traveling to the UK in 2025? Here’s what you need to know about the new UK ETA

Find out more about the UK ETA

If you’re planning to visit the UK from January 2025 onwards, you may need a UK ETA. Here's what you need to know about the new rules.

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What is the UK ETA?

The UK ETA is not a visa – rather it’s an Electronic Travel Authorization that is designed to be more efficient and help the UK Government keep track of who’s entering and leaving the country. It’s much simpler and less expensive to apply for a UK visa, but you can still be rejected.

Who does it apply to?

Currently, the UK ETA requirement only applies to citizens from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Under new rules, the UK ETA applies to all travelers who are currently visa-exempt from entering the UK, except British and Irish nationals.

When does the new UK ETA come into effect?

Non-European citizens will be able to start applying for their ETA starting November 27, 2024. And it will be mandatory for trips starting January 8, 2025.

For European Union citizens that date is slightly later. They will be able to start applying on March 5, 2025. It will be mandatory for European Union citizens for trips starting on April 2, 2025.

From April 2025 all visa-exempt travelers will need to apply for an ETA before entering the country.

Do I need a UK ETA?

How long does it take to get your UK ETA approved?

Once you’ve completed the application, it typically takes a few hours to find out if you’ve been approved or rejected. However in some instances it can take up to 3 days. So apply well in advance of your trip.

How long is the UK ETA valid for?

Once approved, your UK ETA is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

How long can I stay in the UK for with the UK ETA?

The UK ETA allows you to stay in the UK for up to 6 months for:

Tourism
Business
Study
Visiting friends and family
Receiving medical treatment

Do I need a UK ETA if I’m just flying in and out of the UK?

Yes. Even if you’re transferring planes, or transiting through the UK onto another destination you’ll need a UK ETA.

Do I have to have individual UK ETAs for everyone in my family?

Yes. Everyone traveling through or to the UK will need their own individual UK ETA. This also applies to children and infants.

What will I need to apply for my UK ETA?

You’ll need your passport, basic contact info, a valid photo, and credit or debit card to pay for the application fee. You'll also answer a few questions about your criminal and immigration history. It's important you know that criminal or immigration offenses can trigger an ETA rejection. If that happens you may need to apply for a traditional visa.

It’s also important to be aware that the UK ETA can be revoked or canceled if the conditions it was issued change, or if you provided false information during the application process.

What are the challenges when applying for your UK ETA via the UK Government?

You can’t save your progress: Travelers report that the government's app and website have some quirks as the app tends to time out meaning you must complete your application in one sitting as your progress won’t be saved.

It only works in English: It’s easy to become confused with the questions and be rejected if English isn’t your first language.

It’s frustrating for families: You can only apply one at a time so if you’re applying as a family each application must be completed and paid for individually.

Passport scans can be difficult: Users have reported that the app and website can have difficulties recognizing passport info.

Payment processing: Having payments declined is another issue travelers have noted.

No source of customer help: If you’re rejected, there’s little you can do but reapply. The UK Government doesn’t offer support for those denied UK ETAs.

Why apply with iVisa?

At iVisa, we've been simplifying visa processes for more than 10 years. We're here to make the UK ETA application hassle-free and boost your chances of acceptance.

Fast & easy: Apply for your UK ETA faster than the government process, with fewer steps, no face scanning, and no security codes required.
Skip the line: You can Apply for your UK ETA in minutes without lengthy government forms.
Save your session: Start, pause, and resume your application without losing any progress. Language flexibility: Apply in your preferred language – not just English –so you can complete your application with ease.
Passport upload made easy: No NFC phone required – our passport scanning is simple, reliable, and works with any mobile phone or laptop with a camera.
Apply for everyone at once: Easily add multiple travelers in one process- there is no need to completely start all over for each person individually.