American and Canadian tourists will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to travel to the UK from January 8, 2025. Europeans, from April 2, 2025.

The UK government has unveiled the timetable for the roll-out of its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for visa-exempt travellers.

From January 8, 2025, tourists from Canada, the United States and 47 other countries and territories will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before traveling to the United Kingdom.

Citizens of European countries will need an ETA to cross the Channel from April 2, 2025.

This decision is part of post-Brexit reforms to strengthen border security and manage migration flows more effectively.

The United Kingdom launched its ETA system in November 2023 for an initial pilot phase for citizens of Qatar. In February 2024, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan (now removed from the program) joined the ETA program.

Here are the details of the roll-out of Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for travel in the UK from 2025

UK ETA extended to 49 countries from January 8, 2025

In a press release published today, the UK government announced that nationals of 49 countries and territories will be able to apply for ETA authorisation from November 27, 2024.

Visitors from these countries will be required to hold an ETA to travel to the UK from January 8, 2025.

Here is the list of the 49 countries affected by this first stage in the roll-out of the ETA:

ETA in force from April 2, 2025 for European visitors to the UK

From March 5, 2025, the ETA system will be open to European nationals and will become a travel requirement from April 2, 2025.

From this date, tourists and business travellers from Europe will be able to apply for an electronic travel authorisation on the government portal www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta or from the mobile application “UK ETA” available on the App Store and Google Play Store.

The ETA costs £10, or around €12 / US$13. The ETA is valid for 2 years, or until the passport expires if it is less valid, and allows multiple trips to the UK during this period.

The ETA allows its holder to come to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, to visit family and friends, for business, for short-term study or to transit through the country.

European countries affected by the ETA for entry into the United Kingdom without visa from April 2, 2025: