UK Commences ETA for Visa Exempt Nations

Tier1 UK Investor visa

The United Kingdom will be starting Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to travellers from visa exempt countries starting from 8 January 2025. ETA Applications can be filed as early from 27 Nov 2024 via online or app.

ETAs are digitally linked to a traveller’s passport and ensure more robust security checks are carried out before people begin their journey to the UK, helping to prevent abuse of UK immigration system.

An ETA costs £10 and permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to 6 months at a time over 2 years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner.  

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

The introduction of ETAs is in line is similar to US, Canada and Australia to enhance their border security. The EU is expected to start ETIAS travel authorization from mid-2025 from visa exempt countries. ETA already in force travellers for GCC countries.

List of Countries

From 8 January 2025
(Applications open From 27 November 2024.)
From 2 April 2025
(Applications open from 2 April 2025)
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 (including British national overseas)
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
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
United States
Uruguay
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
Source: UK Government
Prabhu Balakrishnan

Prabhu Balakrishnan

Founder and CEO of Best Citizenships

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