The UK has announced new travel guidance for people entering the country, requiring travellers from 48 countries to apply for a visa if they want to cross the British border from tomorrow onwards.

People wanting to enter the UK from these countries from January 8 will need to get an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) visa – a new type of digital registration scheme for travellers who don’t already need a visa to enter the country.

The scheme is intended for short visits to the UK of less than six months for tourism, business and study purposes as well as permitted paid engagements.

An ETA costs £10, the cost of which is non-refundable, and you can apply through the official app or online. The processing time of the app is roughly 10 minutes – faster than doing it online.

EU citizens travelling to the UK will need to get one too, but not until April 2, 2025. You do not need an ETA if any of these apply to you:

• You have a visa
• You have permission to live, work or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled status or right of abode)
• You are a British or Irish citizen
• You are travelling with a British overseas territories citizen passport
• You live in Ireland and you are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man

Being approved for an ETA does not automatically allow you entry into the UK; visitors must still go through passport control and can be denied entry by Border Force.

Applicants must upload a photo of their passport and themselves and answer questions about their reasons for travelling to the UK. It takes around 20 minutes and must be done in one go.

Decisions are usually made within three days but it can take longer, and you’re allowed to travel to the UK while the decision is pending.