The ETA process essentially moves those checks further out, before passengers board their flight to Britain, meaning the process can be expedited once they arrive. 

Beginning January 8, 2025, US passport holders will have an extra step to complete before taking a trip to the United Kingdom. 

On that date, His Majesty’s government is introducing the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for holders of US, Canadian, and Mexican passports, plus 45 other nationalities around the world. EU passport holders will need an ETA to visit Britain in late Spring 2025. British citizens (including British Overseas Citizens but not British Nationals Overseas from Hong Kong SAR which will require an ETA) and Irish citizens may continue to travel to the United Kingdom without an ETA, as can foreign nationals who hold visas or permanent residence in the UK.

The plans mirror the European Union’s delayed plans for an ETA system. ETAs are not visas, and do not guarantee foreign passport holders entry to the country, but they’re a way of speeding up border checks on arrival. ETAs have long been in use in Australia and New Zealand. 

During the current process, border officials scan passports of passengers entering the country, and the identification details are cross referenced by law enforcement and immigration databases, telling the officer whether the passenger has any convictions, immigration violations, or other notes that would make them inadmissible, or require more information before letting them enter the country. The ETA process essentially moves those checks further out, before passengers board their flight to Britain, meaning the process can be expedited once they arrive. 

An ETA will cost £10 ($12.67 at the exchange rate at press time), and will be good for two years, or until the passport expires. Because ETAs are linked to the holder’s passport, they’ll need to apply for a new ETA if their passport is lost, stolen, or expires before the ETA expires. The £10 fee covers the cost of the police checks and administrative overhead. 

The new ETA does not change the United Kingdom’s visa policy. Currently, US passport holders can remain in Britain for stays up to six months for tourism purposes. Travelers who want to study, work, live permanently, or travel for tourism purposes longer than six months will need to apply for a separate visa in advance of their visit. The UK now uses electronic visas on a similar platform to the ETA system. 

Travelers will also need an ETA to transit airports in the UK even if they don’t plan to enter the country. 

Visitors can apply for ETAs either online or using the dedicated app. The app is the easiest way to apply for the ETA, for it allows users to scan their passports and upload a photo to include with their application, which are required parts of the process. The UK government notes that processing ETA requests can take up to three business days, unless more detailed checks are required. 

Specific travel details are not required for the ETA application, so it helps to apply for the ETA as soon as you know you’ll be traveling to or transiting the UK, to give ample time for your ETA to be issued before you begin your journey. If your ETA is not approved and issued prior to the beginning of your journey, the system will still recognize a pending application, and won’t prohibit travel (unlike Australia and New Zealand, which require an ETA to be approved and issued before travel can commence). 

Passport holders from the European Union (and associated territories) will need an ETA to enter the United Kingdom on or after March 5, 2025.