The government is taking major steps towards delivering its ambitious aim to digitise the UK border and immigration system and has set out new implementation dates for the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme.
Everyone wishing to travel to the UK—except British and Irish citizens—will need permission to travel in advance. This can be either through an electronic travel authorisation or an eVisa.
Eligible non-Europeans can apply for an ETA from 27 November 2024 and will need one to travel from 8 January 2025.
They will then extend to eligible Europeans from 5 March 2025, who will need an ETA to travel from 2 April 2025.
How does an electronic travel authorisation work?
ETAs are digitally linked to a traveller’s passport and ensure more robust security checks are carried out before people begin their journey to the UK, helping to prevent abuse of our immigration system.
They cost £10 and permit 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 – whichever is sooner.
From today on, information about ETA eligibility has been available on GOV.UK.
Anyone needing to apply for an electronic travel authorisation can do so through a quick and simple process using the UK ETA app.
Strengthening UK border security with digital innovations
The introduction of ETAs aligns with the approach many other countries have taken to border security, including the US and Australia.
Minister for Migration and Citizenship Seema Malhotra explained: “Digitisation enables a smooth experience for the millions of people who pass through the border every year, including the visitors we warmly welcome to the UK who are predicted to contribute over £32bn to our tourism economy this year.
“The worldwide expansion of the electronic travel authorisation demonstrates our commitment to enhancing security through new technology and embedding a modern immigration system.”
People who need a UK visa to live, work, or study in the UK are now issued with an eVisa, which provides digital proof of immigration status instead of physical immigration documents, which can be lost, stolen, or tampered with.
eVisas mean people no longer have to wait for or travel to collect a physical document, streamlining their experience.
Replacing physical documents
The government is asking migrants in the UK who currently use a physical immigration document, including a biometric residence permit (BRP), or a passport containing ink stamps or visa vignette stickers, to take action now and create an online account to access their eVisa.
Most BRPs are due to expire on 31 December 2024, and BRP holders are urged to take action before their BRP expires.
Creating the account enables people to use online services to prove their rights and manage their data, such as their personal details and passport information. It won’t impact their underlying immigration status.
Through government funding, extra support is being provided for vulnerable people who need to take action to move from physical documents to an eVisa.
The government continues to work closely with global airlines, maritime carriers, and rail carriers, which are crucial to ensuring the smooth implementation of the electronic travel authorisation programme.
