Are holidays to the UK changing forever? All you need to know about the new travel requirements
Travelling into the UK will become more complicated for many as updates continue on the new travel authorisation requirements, ITV News Consumer Editor Chris Choi reports
Words by Daniel Boal, ITV News Producer
Holidaying in the UK is about to change for anyone outside of the European Union, as travel without pre-authorisation is coming to an end.
Non-Europeans visiting or transiting through the UK without a visa will need to obtain a £10 digital permit as of Wednesday 8 January.
The Home Office is extending the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system, which was first introduced in November 2023.
An ETA – which is a digital permission to travel – had only been required for nationals of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
But they are now a requirement for all non-Europeans entering the UK without legal residence rights or a visa.
Furthermore, all European visitors will require an ETA from April 2 this year.
Who needs an ETA?
Essentially the equivalent of the United States' ESTA - a mandatory, paid-for authorisation to travel - the scheme will affect some six million travellers each year.
Travellers from 48 countries outside the EU will need to apply for an ETA if they are arriving in the UK on or after 8 January 2025.
Citizens of the EU are exempt, up until April 2, when they will also need to apply for an ETA.
British and Irish citizens are exempt.
What if you're travelling as a UK resident to Europe?
While British citizens can currently travel without a waiver to Europe, a similar scheme is due to come into effect later this year for UK residents.
Called an ETIAS, the EU travel waiver has been delayed a number of times but is mooted to come into action during 2025.
It will function in the same way that an ETA does for travellers coming into the UK.
ITV News Consumer Editor Chris Choi explains how you can avoid a travel nightmare in 2025
If you are planning a trip to Europe this year my advice is to keep your eyes peeled for updates on the new travel authorisation requirements.
At some stage, a start date will be announced by the EU and you will need to apply for an ETIAS. There’s talk of a grace period where the rules may be only lightly enforced - but so far nobody knows the details.
In theory, if you don’t have the right authorisation linked to your passport, you will be refused entry. Be under no doubt about the sheer scale of this change, it affects 1.4 billion people from 60 countries who wish to enter 30 European countries.
ITV News will be keeping its advice updated, and travel agents and tour operators say they’ll inform passengers. If in doubt it's worth looking at the EU’s dedicated ETIAS website.
How can you apply?
Applications for an ETA can be made through the UK ETA app or the gov.uk website.
ETAs are digitally linked to a traveller’s passport.
The Home Office says they ensure “more robust security checks are carried out before people begin their journey to the UK”, which helps prevent “abuse of our immigration system”.
Each ETA permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years, or until the holder’s passport expires if that is sooner.
More than 243,000 Gulf nationals were issued with ETAs in the first half of 2024, Home Office figures show.
Heathrow Airport blamed the scheme for a 90,000 drop in transfer passenger numbers on routes included in the system since it was launched.
It described the programme as “devastating for our hub competitiveness” and urged the government to “review” the inclusion of airside transit passengers.
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Is it the same as a visa?
Aimed at "short" visits, people can apply for an ETA if they are planning to visit the UK for less than six months, for tourism or business.
Some people have referred to the scheme as a visa. But it is in fact a visa waiver.
Travellers whose citizenship means they require a visa to enter the UK will still need to apply for a visa - and won't need to get an ETA as well.
What if you are just transiting through the UK?
Anyone entering UK soil, even if it is just to get a connecting flight, will need to have an ETA.
Without one, you will not be allowed through passport control.
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