New UK travel permit rules: how are travellers from France affected?

Posted by Admin January 8, 2025 Travel

The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme begins a wider rollout today with citizens of many countries including the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand now affected. This includes nationals of these countries currently living in France.

The ETA tightens border security measures for countries of citizens that have visa-free access to the UK, comparable to the existing Esta system in the US and the upcoming Etias scheme from the EU.

It has often been referred to as a ‘visa’ informally but this is not strictly correct; it is much simpler, although it functions in a similar way by allowing people access to the UK.

The scheme began last year for citizens from certain Middle Eastern countries, further expanding today (January 8) to include citizens from all countries that have visa-free access to the UK with the exception of EU citizens.

ETA requirements will come into place for EU citizens from April 2, 2025.

Below, we answer key questions about the new travel arrangements for those entering the UK and in particular those travelling from France.

What is the ETA?

A valid ETA allows holders to travel into the UK an unlimited number of times within the given period, which is either two years from the date of first travel after attaining the ETA or when the passport it is attached to expires (whichever comes first).

Visitors can come to the UK for up to six months at a time to engage in tourism, visits to friends and relatives, short-term study or business trips, pre-arranged activity at a paid event or engagement (talking at a workshop, etc) or on a ‘CreativeWorker’ visa.

The ETA cannot be used to move to the UK or seek work (either paid or unpaid) nor can benefits be claimed.

People of all ages require an ETA with no exemptions in place for babies/children or elderly travellers.

Who needs this?

The ETA is not needed by:

British nationals or citizens of a British overseas territory, and UK dependencies including Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man, etc, regardless of where they live in the world
Irish nationals (due to the free-travel arrangement between Ireland and the UK). this is regardless of where they live in the world
Dual nationals (provided they use their British or Irish passport to enter the country or have a ‘certificate of entitlement’ in their non UK/Irish passport)
Those who already have a valid visa to enter the UK for work, travel, or residency purposes

Nationals of countries that already require a visa to enter the UK (China, Russians, Indians, etc) are also unaffected, as the ETA only applies to those who benefit from visa-free travel to the UK.

As mentioned above, citizens of all other countries (currently excluding those in the EU) now need an ETA.

EU citizens will need one from April 2, 2025 onwards (and can apply for one online from March 8).

A full list of all countries to which the ETA rules currently – and will eventually – apply can be found here.

Note that applications are related to citizenship, not residency rights.

For example, Americans and Australians living in the EU will still need an ETA to enter the UK from today, even if flying from France (whereas French citizens do not currently need an ETA if flying from France or the US).

What if I am transiting through the UK?

An ETA is required by all those travelling to the UK, including those simply transiting through the country (who previously would not have needed a transit visa due to benefiting from visa-free access).

This is the case even when not passing through UK border security and remaining within an airport terminal.

How to obtain an ETA and what does it cost?

Applications for the ETA are made through the official UK government website or the official ‘UK ETA’ app (links to download the app are available through the official site above).

To apply, you will need:

You will also need to be able to upload a photograph of your passport or face and answer a few questions about yourself. You do not need to supply any travel details.

An application costs £10.

You can make the application on behalf of someone else, however official advice in this case is to use the website and not the app.

How long does the process take and what can I do if rejected?

The UK government says the application process is ‘quick and simple’.

In most cases, a response will be emailed to you within three working days of applying, however it is recommended to apply at least four weeks in advance (you can choose the date from which the ETA will apply to align with the date you will travel).

The ETA is electronically linked to your passport – you do not need to print anything once you have made your application.

You will be informed via email if your ETA is successful – in the vast majority of cases it is expected that applications will be accepted.

If an application is rejected, the applicant will be told why and be allowed to apply again or will be directed towards the appropriate visa they require.

Will it change how people enter the country?

As the ETA is electronically linked to your passport there will be no changes to how a person enters the UK as before.

For example those who can use ePassport ‘Parafe’ gates can continue to do so, or see a border officer in the manner they did beforehand.

I am British and my spouse is French, what happens to us?

Unlike for certain EU border entry rules, there are no special allowances for spouses. Unless your partner is a dual national or already has a valid visa to enter the UK, they will need to acquire an ETA.

However, you will still be able to queue together for the ePassport gates (provided you both have an eligible biometric passport).

When will similar rules for Britons coming into the EU take effect?

An EU version of these border security changes called Etias (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is scheduled to launch in the future, which will see citizens of countries benefitting from visa-free access to the EU (Britons, Americans, Canadians, Australians etc) required to apply.

However, Etias is linked to a reinforced digital border security system for the bloc known as the Entry/Exit System (EES).

This will require travellers to the bloc to provide information about their travel as well as a facial photo and fingerprints on their first trip to the bloc (and on subsequent visits if more than three years elapses between trips).

Etias is scheduled to come into force around six months after the EES launches, however the latter has been beset by numerous delays.

Most recently set to launch in November 2024, it was postponed after some EU countries – among them France – said they were not ready for it.

A new launch date for the EES is yet to be given as legal confusion persists over whether it can be rolled out in ‘phases’ – a method preferred by those who say the process is too demanding to happen at once.

You can read the latest update for the EES from The Connexion in our article below.