For any traveler planning a trip to the UK, keeping yourself up to date on UK ETA travel requirements is vital. One of the new travel rules in 2025 that the UK is implementing is an Electronic Travel Authorization (an ETA, for short).
If you’re unfamiliar with it, an ETA is an electronic document granting you authorization to travel to the UK. After your application is accepted, this document is valid for multiple trips over the course of two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. It is important to note that an ETA does not have anything to do with new visa requirements for the UK, as visas are separate documents.
The good news is that applying for an ETA is very simple since you only need a few documents and have to answer a few questions! On this page, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about the ETA UK travel requirements and give an in-depth guide on how to apply. We’ll also answer some frequently asked questions and share our tips for making the application process as smooth as possible.
| Travel date | Applications open | Countries |
|---|---|---|
15 November 2023 | 25 October 2023 | Qatar was the first country whose nationals were eligible to obtain an ETA to travel to the UK. |
22 February 2024 | 01 February 2024 | Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Jordan was also on this list. However, it was removed from the ETA-eligible countries list in September 2024; Jordanians need to apply for a visa to travel to the UK. |
8 January 2025 | 27 November 2024 | Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macao Special Administrative Region (including British national overseas), Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, 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, and Uruguay. |
2 April 2025 | 5 March 2025 | 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, and Vatican City. |
There are some cases where you’re exempt from needing an ETA to travel into the UK. These cases include:
Additionally, if your country is not included in either the non-European or the European lists that are currently available online, you will likely need a visa to visit the UK.
As mentioned in the introduction, the requirements that you need for your UK ETA application are very simple.
Your passport is the most integral part of applying for an ETA. This is the only document you will need to go through border control, as your ETA will be linked electronically to your passport information. Ensure that your passport information is accurate and that it will remain valid for 6 months beyond your departure to the UK.
Having a recent photo of yourself is another requirement for applying for an ETA. The requirements for the photo are very similar to a passport photo. Full photo requirements can be found further down on this page.
Although not a document, you are required to have a valid payment method. Methods accepted include a debit or credit card, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.
Last, but not least, you will need your email address. This is where you will receive updates and the final answer on your ETA application, so we recommend submitting an email that you have access to and use often.
In addition to the documents we have outlined above, you will also need to fill out a questionnaire with some information about yourself. It is essential to be truthful in your answers, as you can be prosecuted or banned from the UK entry if they have found out you have given false information.
We went into some of the photo requirements earlier on the page, but we want to go in-depth so you are able to present the best photo possible and avoid any issues or delays in your application.
Having the correct lighting and background in your photo is incredibly important. This photo must meet the following requirements:
In terms of how you should present your photo, you should follow these guidelines:
As we’ve outlined above, applying for an ETA is incredibly simple! Below we have outlined the exact steps that you need to follow to apply for your UK ETA.
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The first step you will need to do is fill out your travel information. This includes your current nationality, your estimated arrival date in the UK, and whether you currently have any other nationalities. This section is also where you will upload your passport.
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Next, you will pay the required fees to submit your ETA. This is the last hands-on step, as after you submit payment you simply will have to wait for the application to be processed and receive an answer!
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As soon as your ETA is approved, the fun part begins. Once you receive your ETA, you only need to present your passport at the UK border control as it has been automatically linked to your passport upon approval.
Apply for your UK Electronic Travel Authorization today. Simply fill out the online form to get started.
This website is designed to provide travelers with information and assistance in completing the necessary steps for the online Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) application, at additional professional fees. YOYO Travels L.L.C is a travel and tourism agency based in Dubai, UAE, licensed by the Government of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism. We are not affiliated with the United Kingdom government in any way. Applicants still have the option to apply for the UK ETA on their own via the official government portal at gov.uk without paying any additional professional fees.
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