Hi, I just went online to apply for an ETA for a flight in April to Italy. From Seattle we fly BA to Heathrow and then 3 hours later proceed to Venice (VCE). According to the copied post below, do we no longer need to apply? I'm not sure if we pass through border control at Heathrow or VCE?
17 January 2025
You no longer need an ETA to transit through the UK if you will not pass through border control ('airside' transit).
Is it one ticket or two? If two you will enter the UK and need an ETA.
Travel to and from is one round trip ticket. Thanks for your reply!
As long as you stay airside, you won't need an ETA.
You will go through immigration in Venice.
There was discussion of it and an announcement, but most content on the web still indicates you do. However, if you go to the source, https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta#who-does-not-need-aneta and go down to the section titled "What you can do with an ETA" it states: You do not need an ETA to transit through the UK if you will not pass through border control (‘airside’ transit).
Of course, previously, I am not sure how they would have enforced it if you never showed your passport for scanning.
I'm not sure if we pass through border control at Heathrow or VCE?
You will definitely go through border control at VCE since that is where you are entering the Schengen area. The UK is totally separate, so as long as you stay airside, you never "Enter" the UK.
Use this to see what your flight connection routing is to verify you will NOT go through Border Control ( i.e., stay 'airside')
We are going to Ireland (Irish Republic) and then England this Summer. Do we need an ETA for both countries or is it just one?
You only need the ETA for the United Kingdom. Nothing is needed for the Irish Republic (and won't be whenever and indeed if the European ETIAS ever starts).
So even if you cross by land from the Republic into Northern Ireland (where there are no border checks) you will need the ETA only at that point in time.
Same for flying or taking the ferry to England, Scotland or Wales.
I will be staying in London on a US passport. I processed my ETA on Feb 17. I need an ETA to stay in London. Form/info sheet/ regs stated if transiting though a London airport need an ETA. if on a US passport. Different regs for different passports.
"Form/info sheet/ regs stated if transiting though a London airport need an ETA. if on a US passport"
No ETA is required for transit. Check official sources of information (ie gov.uk)
"You do not need an ETA if:
you are transiting through a UK airport and you will not pass through border control "
That’s all very well if your flights are not delayed or cancelled.
If that happened you may need to leave airside to stay in a hotel.
I wonder if in that case, there are exceptions made for people without the ETA who did not expect to be delayed?
Anyone know?
I wonder if in that case, there are exceptions made for people without
the ETA who did not expect to be delayed? Anyone know?
I'm guessing you would have to stay in the airport airside for the duration of your delay, or you would need to apply for an ETA on your phone and hope to be approved so that you could exit the airport if needed.
Speaking for myself, if I was transiting via any UK airport, I'd just get an ETA before I left. It's good for two years. If I had travel drama, I'd rather be able to leave the airport or finesse another flight (potentially through another UK airport) without the hassle of not having the piece of (virtual) paper required to do so. It's a 10 pound piece of insurance IMHO.
Exactly.
I would get one for when I might be changing flights in the UK.
Good insurance, just in case.
I wouldn’t be able to buy one over the phone, as I would not be getting a simcard till arrival in my EU destination.
My phone doesn’t support e-sims.
I wonder if in that case, there are exceptions made for people without the ETA who did not expect to be delayed? Anyone know?
It is not an issue. You really have two options. First, you could go on the app and fill out the form. Per the guidance of the UK, you need not be approved, only have applied. (Though for most, approval is immediate).
The second option is you merely talk to an actual person, as opposed to using the e-gates. I suppose you answer pretty much the same questions, and that person simply "approves" you for entry.
If you note, there have not been widespread reports of people turned away from the border, or held in limbo for not having an ETA...and the process has been in effect for over a month. Since airlines are not required to verify that passengers have an ETA, I can imagine any number of people turn up at the border daily without an ETA.
