Back in September, we let y’all know that the United Kingdom was planning to expand its electronic visa waiver program. Whereas citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have had to fill out this ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) form since 2023, the UK government announced earlier this year that the program was going to be expanded to include citizens from these countries (boldface type is mine):
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- 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
- Samoa
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Taiwan (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)
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- United States
- Uruguay
ETA applications are now available
The actual requirement to have an ETA won’t begin until January 8, 2025 (or as they say in the UK, 8 January, 2025). However, effective today, November 27th, people from the above countries can apply for their ETA. Once someone has their ETA, it will be good for 2 years.
Who needs an ETA?
You can get an ETA instead of a visa if you are:
- going to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study
- going to the UK for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession
- going to the UK for a permitted paid engagement
- transiting through the UK – even if you are not passing through UK border control
It costs £10 (about US$12.50) to apply and is non-refundable. Everyone traveling will need to get an ETA, including babies and children. You can apply for other people.
What about all the other countries in the world?
Citizens of several other countries will need an ETA starting April 2, 2025, but applications open on March 5, 2025. Eventually, all travelers to the UK – except British and Irish citizens – will need permission to travel in advance through either an ETA or an eVisa.
How do I apply for an ETA?
You can download the app on the App Store or Google Play.
Click here for more information about U.S. citizens requiring an ETA to enter the UK. And here is a press release from the UK government regarding the system going “live” for Americans and people from those other countries listed above.
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