The British authorities have announced that the list of foreign visitors needing a £10 ($13) travel permit to travel to the UK by April 2025 will be expanded.

In November 2023, the previous government of the UK introduced the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system for people wanting to enter or transit through the country without holding residence rights or a visa.

So far, the requirement for an ETA has only been applied to some nationalities. In an attempt to prevent abuse of the immigration system, the UK confirmed that the ETA system will be expanded to include another 83 countries by next year, VisaGuide.World reports.

By April 2025, all visitors who do not need a visa will need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to travel to the UK.

Currently, the £10 travel permit needs to be obtained by nationals of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, UAE, and Saudi Arabia.

Just yesterday, the Home Office confirmed that starting in November of this year, the scheme will open up for visitors from all the other countries, too.

From November 27, 2024, nationals of a total of 49 non-EU countries will be eligible for an ETA, and they will need the document to travel to the UK from January 8, 2025.

As for nationals of the EU, the UK authorities explained that they will be eligible to apply for an ETA from March 5, 2025, and they will be required to present the document when reaching the UK from April 2, 2025.

The ETA is digitally linked to travelers’ passports and ensures more robust security checks. Travellers can get an ETA instead of a visa if they plan to stay in the UK for up to six months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business, and short-term study purposes.

An ETA can also be obtained instead of a visa by those entering the UK for up to three months on the Creative Worker visa concession and those entering for a permitted paid engagement.

Full List of Countries Whose Citizens Need an ETA From Next Year

The list of non-EU countries whose citizens will be eligible for an ETA from November 27, 2024, and will need the document from January 8, 2025, includes:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Australia
• The Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Canada
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
• 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)
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tuvalu
• United States
• Uruguay

Moreover, the list of EU countries that will be eligible for an ETA from March 5, 2025, and can travel with the document to the UK from April 2, 2025, includes:

• Andorra
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czechia
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Monaco
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• San Marino
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Vatican City