On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, the registration of electronic travel or ETA authorization to European citizens was opened, a new system that will be mandatory to travel to the United Kingdom as of April 2 . Every European citizen who travels to the United Kingdom and remains in the country for a period of less than 6 months and who implies border control must request the authorization of electronic travel or ETA.
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Electronic travel or ETA authorization is a new requirement for visa -ex -visa travelers who wish to enter the United Kingdom.
The ETA seeks to facilitate the entry process and improve border security.
We must take into account that ETA is not a visa, but an electronic authorization . The user must go through border control even with electronic travel authorization.
The electronic travel authorization must be requested by every person resident in the European Union who will spend a stay less than 6 months in the United Kingdom , including children and babies. They must also present those people who go to stop at any United Kingdom airport and have to pass border control.
In the case of EU citizens, it can begin to be requested as of March 5, 2025 and must have the ETA in the trips made to the United Kingdom since April 2, 2025 .
It is advisable to obtain authorization at least 3 days before traveling to the United Kingdom . In the event that you travel to the United Kingdom before April 2 and remain there until beyond that date, no authorization is needed.
In the case of non -European citizens, they should have the ETA since January 8 to be able to enter the United Kingdom.
You do not need Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to travel to the United Kingdom in the following cases:
legal residents in the United Kingdom : if you have a valid visa or resident status (residence permit) in the United Kingdom (for example, with pre-settled or settled status in the US Settlement Scheme), you do not need an ETA.
People with a valid British visa : if you already have a valid visa to enter the United Kingdom, you do not need to request the ETA.
Specific exemptions (to be confirmed according to current regulations) : Some categories of diplomatic travelers or government officials could be exempt. Although this may change.
If you do not enter any of these categories and you are a citizen of a country that requires ETA (such as most countries without visa exemption to the United Kingdom), then you will have to request it before traveling.
If you have a British or Irish passport, you don't need an ETA . If you are Irish citizen, you can continue traveling freely to the United Kingdom due to Common Travel Area (CTA).
The registration, which can be made on the British government website or with the UK application .
The process is supersimple and just upload a photo of your person, add the passport data and fill out a form with several questions. The answer usually comes in 48 - 72 hours .
ETA, will have an initial cost of 10 pounds (about 12 euros) and a duration of two years in which you can travel to the United Kingdom as much as you want for stays of less than six months.
It should be taken into account that this rate will increase to 18 pounds in the near future.
The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for the United Kingdom has a validity of 2 years from the broadcast date or until the passport with which you requested it (which happens first).
During that period, you can use it for multiple trips to the United Kingdom without requesting it again, provided that each stay complies with the input rules (usually up to 6 months for tourism, businesses or short studies).
If your passport expires before the age of 2, you will need to request a new ETA with your new passport.
