Americans can now apply for the UK’s ETA. When will the visa-free entry system open to Europeans?

29.11.2024 - 02:41 / euronews.com / Rosie Frost

The UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will soon apply to millions of international visitors.

It requires tourists to gain permission to enter the country as part of plans to fully digitise its borders by 2025.

All eligible non-Europeans can now apply (as of 27 November) for the ETA, which will be required for entry into the UK from 8 January 2025.

This includes six million citizens from the US, Canada and Australia.

The Home Office began rolling out the scheme last November for nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

It has now been announced when it will apply to Europeans, too.

Visitors from Qatar were the first to be able to apply for the UK's new ETA scheme, starting on 15 November 2023.

Visitors from the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Jordan were the next group from February 2024.

Previously, nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates could apply for a single-use Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) instead of a visa to enter the UK. This cost £30 (€34.30) and was valid for up to six months.

The ETA scheme has now entirely replaced the EVW scheme, offering a lower cost option with multi-entry validity, according to the UK government.

The ETA has now opened up to all other nationalities, except Europeans, and is required for entry from 8 January 2025.

Europeans, meanwhile, will be required to have an ETA for travel from 2 April 2025, with applications opening up on 5 March.

Once the scheme applies to your country, you will need to fill in an online application form that will grant you permission to enter the UK. Most visitors will be able to apply using a mobile app with a swift decision on their application, according to the government.

You'll need a valid biometric passport from an eligible country, travel details, an email address and a credit or debit card. You will also have to answer a set of suitability questions.

Like the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) in the US, a small fee is attached to the application process. This will be set at £10 (€11.66).

Travellers are advised to apply at least a few days before their planned journey and approval should be granted within 72 hours.

The ETA isn't a visa but it does grant permission to enter the country.

All visitors who currently don't have to apply for a visa will need to get an ETA before they travel. This includes those who do not currently need to make any form of application to visit the UK - meaning US, Canadian, Australian and European citizens will require an ETA even for short stays.

If you don't apply before your trip, you could be fined. UK and Irish passport holders won’t need an ETA.

Travellers from countries that don't have