The UK's new ETA scheme is being phased in

The UK government is phasing in a new travel scheme. It will require people travelling to the UK without a visa to get an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). An ETA is a digital permission to travel.

The scheme is a new requirement for permission to travel to the UK which has been phased in since November 2023. This is not a visa, and entry requirements into the UK will remain unchanged. British and Irish passport holders do not need an ETA.

Visitors will need an ETA to:

1. come to the UK for up to six months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or study
2. come to the UK for up to three months on the Creative Work visa concession
3. transit through the UK - including when not going through UK border control

See video below for more detail.