The UK Home Office published the dates that the United Kingdom’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme will be rolled out to all applicable countries.
The ETA is a digital permission to travel to the United Kingdom (similar to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) system in the United States). The scheme first launched in October 2023 and has been in place for nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudia Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates since November 2023.
The ETA scheme will be extended to all nationals that can travel to the UK visa-free in two further phases:
- Eligible non-Europeans can apply in advance from 27 November 2024 and must have an ETA to travel to the UK from 8 January 2025.
- Eligible Europeans can apply from 5 March 2025 and must have an ETA to travel to the UK from 2 April 2025.
An ETA costs £10 ($13.12) and permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time. The ETA is valid for two years or until the individual’s passport expires, if sooner.
The application can be made online or on a mobile device using the UK ETA app. Applicants scan their passport, take a photograph of themselves, and complete a questionnaire with personal details, previous immigration history, and details of any criminal convictions.
Applying for an ETA means that all relevant travelers will need to declare criminal convictions and any adverse UK immigration history. The Home Office will carry out checks, and decisions should be made within three working days, but if further checks are required it may take longer. It is therefore imperative that travelers submit their applications in a timely manner, especially those who may have previous criminal convictions or adverse immigration history. If the ETA application is unsuccessful, the traveler will be directed to apply for a visa, which comes with significantly longer processing times.
NEXT STEPS
This announcement confirms that by April 2025, all visitors who do not need a visa, with the exception of British and Irish citizens, will need an ETA to travel to the UK. Employers may wish to review upcoming business travel needs and inform employees of the changes due to be implemented. Employees should ensure they have sufficient passport validity, raise any concerns they may have regarding the scheme, and submit their applications in good time.
IMPLEMENTATION OF A VISA REQUIREMENT FOR JORDANIAN NATIONALS
The updated rules also included a change to the visa national list to include Jordanian nationals.
With effect from 10 September 2024, Jordanian nationals must first obtain a UK visitor visa prior to travelling to the UK. Previously, Jordanian nationals were classed as non-visa nationals allowing them to travel to the UK for tourist or business purposes without first obtaining a visit visa. They had also been one of the first nationalities eligible to apply for an ETA.
Transitional provisions allow Jordanian nationals who already hold a valid ETA and confirmed travel bookings made before 3:00 pm on 10 September 2024 to travel without first obtaining a visit visa if they are due to arrive in the UK no later than 3:00 pm on 8 October 2024.
Employers intending to send Jordanian nationals to the UK on business trips should ensure that they are aware of this change and, where necessary, apply for a visit visa prior to travel.
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