General questions about the ETA UK

• What is the ETA UK?

  The United Kingdom recently introduced an ETA. This is an electronic travel authorisation which allows travellers to enter England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland visa-free. You can apply for the ETA UK online. From 2 April 2025 onwards, applying for an ETA will be mandatory for most travellers from continental Europe.
  
  From 2 April 2025 onwards, travellers from continental Europe will always need to show an ETA or a visa before they depart for the United Kingdom. Airlines, railway companies, cruise companies and ferry services will check whether all passengers own an ETA or a visa, before they are allowed to board the vehicle. The ETA will even be mandatory for a stopover or a transfer in the United Kingdom.
  
  You can apply for the ETA UK online. The online application process consists of a digital form, an online payment and uploading two documents per traveller. As soon as it is mandatory for EU citizens, you can apply for the ETA on this website.
  
  Apply for your ETA UK

• Do I need an ETA UK?

  The ETA UK will not be mandatory for holders of a British or Irish passport.

  Travellers holding the passport of a country within the EU or EFTA do not need an ETA to travel to the United Kingdom yet. However, the UK recently announced that the ETA will become mandatory for continental European travellers from 2 April 2025 onwards. If you intend to travel to the United Kingdom after 1 April 2025, you most likely need an ETA. Travellers with a European passport may submit their applications from 5 March 2025 onwards.

• When will the ETA become mandatory?

  The ETA UK has already been introduced for travellers from the Middle East. Currently, travellers from most European countries are allowed to travel to the UK without a visa or an ETA. Recently, it was announced that the ETA UK will become mandatory for travellers from continental Europe from 2 April 2025 onwards. The application must be submitted before departure. The application form opens on 5 March 2025.

• Who is eligible for the ETA UK?

  The ETA UK will be available for all travellers who were allowed to travel to the UK visa-free in the past. This applies to all travellers with the nationality of a country within the European Union or the EFTA (Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland). Travellers from these countries are eligible for the ETA if they fulfil the following requirements:
  
  • the purpose of the travel is a holiday or a business trip (transiting in the UK or following a course is also allowed);
  • the duration of the stay in the United Kingdom does not exceed 6 months (multiple trips are allowed within the validity period of 2 years);
  • the traveller has a passport which is valid for the entire duration of their stay in the United Kingdom;
  • the traveller uses the same passport for their trip as they used for their ETA-application;
  • the traveller does not pose any risk for the United Kingdom and its inhabitants.
  
  If you do not fulfil these applications, you are not eligible for the ETA UK. Do you want to travel to the United Kingdom regardless? In that case, you need to apply for a visa. Visa applications have to be submitted to the British immigration services. For more information about this, you can contact a Visa Application Centre. e-Visa.ie cannot assist you with visa applications for the United Kingdom.

• How can I apply for an ETA UK?

  The ETA UK is not yet mandatory for travellers from continental Europe. You will be able to apply for an ETA UK on this website, as soon as travellers from continental Europe will need an ETA to enter the United Kingdom.
  
  The application process consists of three steps:
  
  1. Filling in the application form: You start by filling in the digital application form. This should take only a few minutes per traveller. For this, you will need the passport details of each traveller within your ETA application.
  
  2. Paying the costs: After you fill in the application form, you can pay the costs of the ETA. You can use various safe payment methods, including credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express), PayPal, Google Pay or Apple Pay.
  
  3. Uploading the documents: You complete your application by uploading two documents per traveller. For each traveller, you need to submit a digital photograph and a photo or scan of their passport.
  
  After completing these steps, your application will be checked by the visa experts at e-Visa.ie. This way, possible mistakes can be corrected. If everything is in order, your application is forwarded to the British immigration services. This government institution is responsible for reviewing ETA applications. If your application is approved, you will receive an e-mail and an SMS, after which you are allowed to travel to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland immediately.
  
  Read more about the ETA UK