If the United Kingdom is on your travel bucket list this year, there’s an important update to keep in mind: travellers will soon need a new pre-travel pass to enter the UK from 8 January 2025. This change is part of the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, which aims to enhance border security and streamline the entry process for visa-exempt visitors. Here’s everything you need to know about this new requirement and how it might affect your travel plans.
What is the UK’s electronic travel authorisation?
This digital travel authorisation will be required for non-visa travellers entering the UK, including those visiting for tourism, business, or family reasons. The ETA ensures that travellers are pre-screened before arrival, helping to improve border efficiency and security.
How to apply for the eta and how much it costs
Applying for the ETA is a quick and straightforward online process requiring a valid passport with at least six months of validity, basic personal details such as your full name, address, valid photo and travel plans, and a payment method to cover the £10 ( RM 45.12) application fee, which applies to all travellers, including babies and children.
Approvals typically take up to 72 hours, so applying in advance is wise. Once approved, the ETA is valid for two years, allowing multiple entries to the UK, with visitors permitted to stay for up to six months per trip for business or tourism purposes.
Who needs to apply
Starting 8 January 2025, travellers from countries that do not require a visa to enter the UK will need to obtain an ETA before their trip, with EU citizens exempt until 2 April 2025. Citizens of countries including Malaysia, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States, Japan, Brazil, and several Caribbean and Pacific nations, among others, will require an ETA starting 8 January 2025.
From 2 April 2025, citizens of EU member states, as well as Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, and Vatican City, must also obtain an ETA, which they can apply for online starting 5 March 2025.
Check out the full list here!
Who does not need to apply for an ETA?
No ETA is needed if you have a visa, UK residency, British or Irish citizenship, a British Overseas Territories passport, or are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, or the Isle of Man.
Start preparing for your trip now, and don’t forget to check off that new pre-travel pass on your list.
