New ETA Requirement for all UK Visitors

Thank you for the information.

Thanks for this helpful information Stuart.

At least I can go back to London one more time for my birthday (Jan. 7) without the ETA ! Haha

Thank you! Very useful information.

We’ll be visiting the UK in the of summer 2025 so thanks for this information with links. I put a reminder on our calendar to apply 2 weeks in advance.

Good to know, Stuart - thank you! I have an overnight layover next spring, so that is one more item to put on my to-do list.

We will be there from Jan 2 to Jan 12, so since we will still be in England on and after Jan 8 i am guessing we will need to get the new ETA. Thank you for the head's up! I had researched this a few weeks ago and at that time it didn't look like we would need one.

I had researched this a few weeks ago and at that time it didn't look like we would need one.

It really didn't. This was meant to be a slow roll out for a few 'at risk' countries. The announcement of it having global effect was a total surprise announcement by the new government.

We will be there from Jan 2 to Jan 12, so since we will still be in England on and after Jan 8 i am guessing we will need to get the new ETA. Thank you for the head's up! I had researched this a few weeks ago and at that time it didn't look like we would need one.

Technically. no, since your entry is before January 8. You could still do it, it is good for 2 years, but not a requirement. The ETA is information provided for entry.

The announcement of it having global effect was a total surprise announcement by the new government.

Thanks for this key piece of information too!

ETA was originally expected to be rolled out to all other countries at some time in the present year, so the implementation is if anything a little late but not by much to matter. There weren't any prior details of how this rolling out was to be done though & this represents two big steps rather than a slow build-up.

There is an app called UK ETA where you can apply. According to the ETA website, it is the fastest way to apply.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/uk-eta/id6444912481
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.gov.HomeOffice.ho3

Or it will be from 27 November.

Until then it is only open to passport holders of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Jordanians have now been removed from the ETA scheme and have to apply for Visas, presumably due to the ongoing Palestine conflict.

That's right, Nick, The last group, who will need to register in March, are EU nationals and those from non-EU countries that are in Europe. (And don't necessarily need a visa.)

Thank you! I’m going to England (and Ireland) next June.

So this would apply to people who only have a connection at Heathrow on their way back to the states from anywhere? I think a lot of folks may be caught unawares next January 9.

I think this is pretty clear, but just because I'm having "that" kind of day (one where nothing is going smoothly) I'll ask.... I do not need this for a December trip, right? It looks like although the applications open in November, it is not needed until January, right?

You're right, KRS. If you are not going to be in the UK before January 8, 2025, there is nothing to do and nothing you need.

You're right, KRS. If you are not going to be in the UK before January 8, 2025, there is nothing to do and nothing you need.

Thank you! That's one less thing to worry about today. :)

Or it will be from 27 November.

Stuart, that's true, but you can download the app now. I have done so and since it's on my home page, it will be a reminder that I need to sign up before I leave for the UK in March.

So this would apply to people who only have a connection at Heathrow on their way back to the states from anywhere? I think a lot of folks may be caught unawares next January 9.

Lyndash, I have a feeling that airlines may be informing passengers of this.

The transit passengers will need to be careful. More clarity may be needed as to whether even those transiting airside on one ticket do or do not need an ETA.

Logically you would hope it would be just those transiting landside, on two tickets.

But the devil will be in the detail, so to speak.

LHR have already this year reported a sizeable decrease in transit passenger numbers from the pilot scheme, so doubtless there will be behind the scenes lobbying happening.

So this would apply to people who only have a connection at Heathrow on their way back to the states from anywhere?

Not just Heathrow but any airport in the UK. You would need it in any direction.

In the section on "What you can do with an ETA" is this:

transiting through the UK – including if you’re not going through UK border control

So, it looks like you will need an ETA even if you are staying airside. However, this really does need clarification.

Right now, many airlines have a section when booking a flight internationally to what is required to enter that country. I'm sure they'll include this information since they'll probably have to check you have one prior to boarding.

How about non-UK/non-Irish citizens going from Ireland to Northern Ireland or Great Britain? I’m wondering how it works with the CTA?

"since they'll probably have to check you have one prior to boarding."

This could get chaotic- there are tens of thousands of people with the legal right to live in the UK who the government is yet to move to electronic visas/residency proof, and others (like me) who have right of abode in the UK but foreign passports.

Interestingly (for anyone who leaves applying too late) the government site notes:

"You must apply for an ETA before you travel to the UK. You can travel to the UK while waiting for a decision."

Thank you everyone for the info!

And just to confuse things, don't forget that the EU is going to start requiring similar information next year through ETIAS.

According to their website, that is slated to begin "in the first half of 2025" but we've heard that before. Perhaps there will even be an attempt to have these two databases play nice together ...

Perhaps there will even be an attempt to have these two databases play nice together ...

I seriously doubt that, these are two entirely separate entities. The UK refused to integrate many things when they were part of the EU, I see no incentive now.

Perhaps there will even be an attempt to have these two databases play nice together ...

Never. The EU is intent on punishing the UK for having the temerity to leave the union, they'd never agree to it even if it made sense.