ETAs will be implemented for European Nationals travelling to the UK in 2025.
Nationalities from the following locations can apply for an ETA from the 5th March 2025, with ETA’s becoming obligatory from the 2nd April 2025.
Who does not need an ETA :
Please check this link to find out if you currently need an ETA or check if your nationality can apply later.
Students aged 18 and under travelling on a French organised school trip, which has properly completed the UK-FR School Travel Information Form will be exempt from ETA. Teachers and guardians travelling as part of the trip will NOT be exempted and should ensure they have properly requested an ETA ahead of travel.
You do not need an ETA if any of these apply to you :
- You have a visa
- You have permission to live, work or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme)
- You are a British or Irish citizen
- You are travelling with a British overseas territories citizen passport
- You live in Ireland and you are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
- Dual Citizens :
- If you are a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship, you do not need an ETA.
- Prove your permission to travel using your British passport, Irish passport or other passport containing a certificate of entitlement.
- What you can do with an ETA :
- You can get an ETA instead of a visa if you are:
- Coming to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study
- Coming to the UK for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession
- Coming to the UK for a permitted paid engagement
- Transiting through the UK – including if you are not going through UK border control
- If you are coming to the UK for another reason, check if you need a visa instead.
- What you cannot do with an ETA :
- You cannot:
- Stay in the UK for longer than 6 months
- Do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, unless you are doing a permitted paid engagement or event or work on the Creative Worker visa concession
- Claim public funds (benefits)
- Live in the UK through frequent or successive visits
- Marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership
- You will need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa
How much it costs :
- It costs £10 to apply. Everyone travelling needs to get an ETA, including babies and children. You can apply for other people.
- You cannot get a refund after you apply.
Before you start :
You need :
- The passport you will travel with – not a photocopy or digital passport
- Access to your emails
- A credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
- You will need to upload or take photos of the passport and the face of the person applying
- You do not need to enter your travel details.
- Apply for an ETA
- The fastest way to apply is using the UK ETA app.
School Trips and ETA :
The British government has considered the implications of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme on French school groups visiting the UK, and has agreed that children aged 18 and under, travelling as part of a French school group, will be temporarily exempted from the ETA requirement until a group solution is developed.
This will allow EU, EEA and Swiss children to continue to use their identity cards on organised French school trips to the UK so long as they meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules.
The UK-FR school trip form provides the exemption for ETA and must be used to benefit from the exemption. The form may still be used even if all school children have passports. This agreement is specific to France and helps to maintain educational and cultural links with the UK.
Ian Birss – Association Newsletter Editor