UK ETA Requirements for 83 Nationalities in 2025

From January and April 2025, 83 nationalities will require Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter the United Kingdom. This development represents a major shift in how visa-exempt travelers prepare for entry into the UK and consolidates multiple updates into one comprehensive, evergreen overview of the UK ETA requirements.

The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) requirements are currently being implemented in phases, expanding eligibility to a wide range of countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, European nations, and other visa-exempt nationalities. Business operators, general aviation airports, and travelers must understand these changes to ensure full compliance before departure.

Understanding the UK ETA

The UK ETA is an Electronic Travel Authorization that grants certain nationalities permission to travel to the United Kingdom. It is electronically linked to the traveler’s passport and serves as a digital pre-travel clearance system for eligible visitors.

The UK ETA is not a visa. All entry requirements into the UK remain unchanged.

The introduction of the ETA reflects the UK’s shift toward digital pre-clearance for visa-free visitors. It applies to travelers visiting the UK for short-term stays, including tourism, business, visiting family and friends, study, and certain creative worker visits. The ETA also applies to travelers transiting through a UK airport.

Everyone including children who enters or transits through the UK must apply for the ETA. Each visitor requires their own ETA, including children and babies.

ETA clearances are valid for two years and cover multiple trips to the UK.

Rollout Timeline & Affected Travelers

The UK ETA was launched in November 2023 for citizens of Qatar and then extended to citizens of the GCC in February 2024.

Qatari citizens have needed an ETA to enter the UK since November 15, 2023.

Citizens of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have needed an ETA to enter the UK since February 22, 2024.

From January 8, 2025, travelers from the United States, Canada, and 47 other countries will require an ETA to enter the United Kingdom. Applications will open in November prior to the January implementation.

From April 2, 2025, travelers from Europe will require ETAs. The ETA system will be open to Europeans from March 2025.

By this time, the UK ETA will apply to EU, U.S., and Canadian citizens.

These phased rollouts ensure that visa-exempt travelers are granted digital authorization prior to travel to the UK.

Who Needs the ETA – Key Nationalities

From January 8, 2025, travelers from 49 countries will require Electronic Travel Authorization. These countries are:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Australia
• The Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Canada
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Hong Kong
• Israel
• Japan
• Kiribati
• Macao
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Marshall Islands
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• 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
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tuvalu
• United States
• Uruguay

From April 2, 2025, the following 34 European countries will also require ETAs:

• 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

This expansion brings the total to 83 nationalities requiring Electronic Travel Authorization in 2025.

Exemptions from ETA Requirements

Not all travelers require an ETA.

British or Irish passport holders do not need an ETA.

Persons with permission to live, work, or study in the UK do not need an ETA.

UK visa holders do not need an ETA.

The ETA applies to visa-exempt nationalities traveling for short-term stays or transit.

Cost & Validity of the ETA

An ETA will cost £10 per person.

The ETA costs £10 (approximately €12, $13) and allows multiple trips to the UK over a two-year validity period.

An ETA will last for two years or until the passport expiration and allows multiple journeys to the UK.

Each visit to the UK can be up to six months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business, or study.

For those visiting on the Creative Worker visa, the stay may be up to three months.

Application Process Made Simple

Applying for a UK ETA is a digital process.

Travelers can apply on the UK ETA app, or online at GOV.UK.

Applicants must submit passport and contact details and complete the required information as part of the online application.

Each visitor requires their own ETA, including children and babies.

It takes about 3 working days to find out whether the application is successful. Some decisions may be quicker.

Visitors must apply at least 3 days before they travel, and applications may take longer if further checks are needed.

Travelers must use the same passport for travel that was used for the ETA application, as the ETA is electronically linked to the passport.

For more information and to apply for UK ETA, visit the UK government website here.

For more information, please visit our blog about The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorization here.

Travel Readiness Tips

With the phased implementation of the UK ETA requirements, advance preparation is essential.

Each traveler must have a separate ETA, including children and infants.

Applications should be submitted at least three working days before travel.

Travelers must ensure they use the same passport for their ETA application and their journey.

Business operators and general aviation airports need to be prepared for the new requirement, particularly during rollout phases affecting different regions.

Travelers transiting through a UK airport must also apply for the ETA when required.

For more updates on global travel requirements, check out the UAS Blog.

Supporting Your UK Flight Operations

As the UK ETA requirements expand to 83 nationalities in 2025, flight operators, business aviation stakeholders, and travelers must ensure compliance prior to departure.

For support with your flight operations to the UK, contact UAS. Our aviation trip support services, emergency trip support services, and urgent trip support services are designed to assist operators navigating evolving international travel requirements.

To ensure your operations remain compliant and fully supported, contact UAS for expert assistance with your UK missions and global trip planning needs.