Updates to the new ETA and ETIAS Scheme
The Government have announced an extension to the list of countries from which nationals will require an ETA before travelling to the UK. In this blog we explore the ETA framework and the upcoming changes to this, alongside travel to the EU.
Travel to the UK
What is an ETA?
An ETA, or Electronic Travel Authorisation, was a scheme launched by the Government to provide digital permission to travel to the UK, essentially for visitors who either do not need a visa for short stays to the UK, or who do not already have a UK immigration status prior to travelling. It was initially opened on 25 October 2023 for Qatari nationals which was then extended to nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan towards the beginning of 2024.
An ETA gives permission for the individual to transit through the UK, stay for up to six months as a visitor, or stay for three months on the Creative Worker visa concession. However, it is not valid permission to enter the UK, and the individual will also need to obtain permission to enter on arrival in the UK. Each traveller must have their own ETA, including children and babies.
It is digitally linked to the traveller’s passport and the aim is to ensure security checks are carried out before individuals begin their journey to the UK, with the aim of supporting the immigration system and border security (due to the fact that biographic, biometric and contact details are required upfront as part of the application). An ETA once granted lasts for two years and permits multiple journeys into the UK of up to 6 months at a time over that 2 year period, or until the traveller’s passport expires, whichever is the sooner.
An ETA can be applied for either electronically via an app or through the Government website. An ETA costs £10 and a decision on the application is usually made within three working days.
Extension of the ETA scheme
Recently the Home Office have outlined that the ETA scheme will be introduced worldwide. It announced that:
- from 27 November 2024, eligible non-Europeans can apply for an ETA and will need an ETA to travel from 8 January 2025; and
- ETAs will then be extended to eligible European nationals from 5 March 2025, who will need an ETA to travel from 2 April 2025.
However, the Home Office highlights that those with a British or Irish passport will not need to apply for an ETA.
How to apply
In order to apply for an ETA, individuals need to:
- provide biographic and biometric data (in the form of a facial image); and
- provide answers to a series of suitability questions (including, for example any criminal convictions).
Once submitted, an ETA application cannot be amended or withdrawn and therefore a failure to provide this information correctly may result in refusal.
There is no appeal process if an application for an ETA is rejected, Therefore, if an individual is refused an ETA they will need to apply for a standard visitor visa, a creative worker visa, or a transit visa (if applicable).
Visitors from countries that require a visa to visit the UK will still need to apply for a visitor visa before they travel to the UK in the usual way.
Individuals travelling to the UK need to be aware of the scheme and check if they will be required to apply in good time before making their UK travel plans. Businesses who require employees to visit the UK for permitted reasons also need to be aware of the new requirements, and factor in the time and cost involved when making arrangements for business travel.
Travel to the EU
A new automated European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will pre-screen visa exempt travellers to 30 European countries, with a similar aim to the ETA – to identify any potential threats prior to travel and to maintain immigration control.
Currently, UK nationals do not require additional travel documentation when entering the Schengen area, provided they are travelling for not more than 90 days in any 180-day period. The ETIAS is expected to launch in mid-2025 and will mean that UK nationals will then need to apply in order to travel to a country within the Schengen area.
Applicants will be able to apply on the ETIAS website. Information requests will include:
- biometric and personal data;
- contact details;
- education history;
- travel document information; and
- suitability questions.
The fee for an ETIAS application is €7, for those travellers between 18 and 70. Every individual however, regardless of their age, will require a valid ETIAS prior to their travel to a country within the Schengen area. It has been highlighted that most applications will be processed quickly, but this could be increased depending on the circumstances or if further information is required.
The ETIAS will then be valid for three years or until the passport expires, whichever is sooner.
Once granted, the ETIAS will then be valid for three years or until the individual’s travel document expires, whichever is sooner, and will allow travel to those European countries for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Much like the ETA however, this does not guarantee entry and the individual will need to obtain permission to enter on arrival.
We will review both the ETA developments and the upcoming ETIAS as they are announced and provide updates on these areas as this continues. If you have any questions on the contents of this blog please contact a member of the Immigration team.
We publish blogs and social media posts to give a general overview of legal and commercial issues, relevant at the time of publication, which we hope you will find interesting. Please note that legal rules often change depending on the specific facts of a situation. The law also changes over time following changes in legislation or new court cases. We do not actively update our blogs or posts once they are published to reflect changes in the law.
As such, our blogs and posts are not intended to advise you on the law and must not be relied upon as legal advice. If you require advice on a particular issue then please contact us and we will be pleased to help.
