As of January 8, 2025, almost everyone traveling to the United Kingdom on a short term basis (even for transiting purposes) will now be required to have an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).

First announced in March 2023, the Electronic Travel Authorization is part of an online system that checks foreign nationals entering the country against a series of national security and criminal databases.

First rolled out a number of middle eastern countries that same year, the UK government expanded the list of countries in September 2024, including the United States and most across Eastern and Western Europe.

There are a few exceptions to the rule. For instance, if you require a full VISA or have permission to live, work or study in the UK, you do not need to apply for the ETA. British and Irish citizens are also exempt from the rule, even those with a British overseas territories citizen passport.

At the moment, a handful of countries and states still not part of the January 8 requirement. Some of those include Monaco, Vatican City, Norway, Switzerland, and a few others. However passport holders from these countries will also need an ETA from April 2, 2025.

The application can be done via their app in the App Store or Google Play. For those without smartphone access, there is the option do apply via the UK government’s website. Besides filling out the form, applicants will need to provide a photo of themselves and their passport. They will also have to pay a £10 application fee via credit/debit card, or Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Another necessary requirement?

More countries are slowly implementing their own ETAs as it’s easier for security officials to keep tabs on those entering their country. The European Union has planned their own ETA as well, but implementation has been delayed several times, with the latest launch period hovering somewhere around mid-2025.

In the grand scheme, £10 is not a lot of money, and the UK ETA is good for up to two years (or your passport’s expiration date if that comes before). On the other hand, with more countries implementing their own ETAs, it does mean a bit more research and planning, especially for last minute trips. I imagine the costs could add up if you need to transit through multiple countries with ETAs.

Featured image: Phil Fiddyment/Flickr | CC BY 2.0 Generic