From April 2025: UK Introduces ETA for Entry and Transit

Travellers to the United Kingdom should brace themselves for a new requirement starting in April 2025. From 2 April 2025, even most Europeans will need to register online in advance to enter the country.

This rule extends to those simply transiting through UK airports. A new ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) will be mandatory, costing £10 (around €12), and will be valid for up to two years. As before, individual stays must not exceed six months.

ETA Requirement from January and April

The ETA isn’t just for Europeans. From 2025, all individuals travelling to or through the UK without a visa will need to pre-register. Exemptions will only be made for British and Irish citizens or visa holders.

For European travellers, applications will open from 5 March 2025. You’ll have the option of using a smartphone app (available on Android and iOS) or an online form. In both cases, the fee is set at £10 (approximately €12).

Once granted, the ETA will be valid for two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

Since October 2021, UK travel requires a passport, as national ID cards are no longer accepted.

Even Transiting in London Requires an ETA

The ETA isn’t just necessary for entering the UK. Travellers who are merely changing flights at UK airports will also need one, even though transit passengers do not go through passport control (unlike, for instance, the US).

This change is likely to make London a less attractive option for occasional travellers. London Heathrow already has a reputation as a challenging airport for connecting flights, due to factors like security checks and terminal changes that require bus transfers. The new ETA requirement will likely make alternatives, such as connections through Madrid or Helsinki, more appealing.

Conclusion

An increasing number of countries are requiring visitors to pre-register online. While the idea of pre-screening travellers makes sense, as a frequent flyer, I find the constant need to register and check the rules quite frustrating. The time it takes to manage these requirements is more annoying than the actual cost of ETAs and similar authorisations.