US Travelers Need a UK ETA for 2025—Here's How to Apply

03.12.2024 - 23:09 / cntraveler.com

Starting on January 8, 2025 US travelers—as well as visitors from Australia and Canada—will be required to apply for permission to enter the UK through a new scheme known as Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).

After several delays, the UK ETA application portal officially opened for non-European travelers on November 27, 2024. US travelers with trips planned to the UK next year can now apply via the UK ETA mobile app or website. While most applications are approved the same day, it can take take up to 72 hours—so don't risk leaving it to the last minute.

The UK government is in the process of fully digitizing UK borders by the end of 2025. Soon, all visitors to the UK (which includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) who aren't UK or Irish citizens will be required to receive advanced approval through an ETA or an eVisa.

The UK ETA system is similar to how the US's own ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) system works. “An ETA costs £10, permits multiple journeys, and lasts for two years or until the holder’s passport expires—whichever is sooner," the UK government explained in a news release. “Once granted, ETAs are digitally linked to a traveler’s passport and allow for stays of up to six months at a time—including both short trips and more extended stays. An ETA is not a visa, it is a digital permission to travel.”

Here's everything you need to know about the new UK ETA requirements.

This article has been updated with new information since its original publication date.

This isn't technically a visa—the ETA system will grant travelers permission to enter the country. You will need to apply for an ETA prior to arrival. If you haven't received permission to travel before arrival, you may be fined or denied boarding.

An ETA is required for fliers transiting through the UK, even if you never leave the airport. According to the UK government, “requiring transit passengers to obtain an ETA stops people who may use connecting flights to avoid gaining permission to travel to the UK." However, this rule is “under review,” per a news release, and could change in the future.

Travelers from the US will soon need to apply for permission to enter or transit through the UK.

Travelers are advised to apply for an ETA at least a few days before their journey. Approval should be granted within a few hours of applying but can take up to 72 hours to process.

After your ETA has been approved, visitors will be granted permission to stay in the UK for up to six months, whether for business or tourism reasons.

The ETA is valid for two years or until your passport expires (whichever comes first)—meaning there's no need to apply for a new one every time you visit within the valid time period.