Thursday, November 28, 2024 The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system is reshaping the way international travelers access the country. Starting with US citizens, the scheme is now expanding its global reach, offering millions of visitors a streamlined, visa free way to visit the UK. With plans to fully digitise UK borders by 2025, this ambitious initiative is setting the stage for a new era of travel.
Europe is next in line, with applications opening in early 2025, raising questions about how this will transform travel for its largest group of visitors. The ETA rollout began on 15 November 2023 , when travelers from Qatar were the first to apply under the new system. Shortly after, in February 2024 , the UK extended the scheme to nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—as well as Jordan .
These initial phases served as a pilot for the broader implementation, allowing the UK to refine the system ahead of its global expansion. On 27 November 2024 , the ETA scheme opened to all other non-European travelers, including the six million citizens of the US, Canada, and Australia who make up a significant portion of the UK’s annual visitors. From 8 January 2025 , having an approved ETA will become mandatory for entry into the UK for these nationalities.
The next phase of the rollout targets European visitors, who represent the UK’s largest group of international tourists. Application.