Electronic Travel Authorisations

The rollout of Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) marks a significant milestone for non-visa nationals visiting the UK. They will now need to apply for advance permission in the form of an ETA.

Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) 

As the UK continues to advance its digitalisation efforts, the wider rollout of Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) marks a significant milestone for non-visa nationals visiting the UK. As an employer, staying informed about this new requirement will ensure seamless compliance and strategic advantage, allowing international collaboration to continue.

What is an ETA?

An ETA is an advance travel permission required by specified non-visa nationals when coming to the UK as a visitor or transiting the UK. It is a digital permission attached to the traveller's passport. UKVI has introduced this to enhance security and streamline the entry process. It is not intended as a visa scheme, although there are some similarities. It means a significant reduction in the number of people who can travel to the UK with no advance permission. 

Who needs an ETA?

From 2 April 2025, the ETA scheme has been extended to Europe, with all non-visa nationals visiting the UK now needing to apply. This includes individuals from the EU, US, Australia, and Canada. British citizens, Irish citizens, visa holders, and those with indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or settled status are exempt. Any company with a UK footprint is encouraged to review these rules to ensure that their international employees and visitors are aware of (and comply with) these new requirements.

Application process and timelines

The application process for an ETA is straightforward. Applicants will need to provide their personal information, answer a limited number of questions, and pay a fee of £16.00. Please be mindful that there are a large number of agents offering to make the applications for a highly inflated price. We would always recommend applying through the official gov.uk website and app.

An ETA application can generally be processed automatically, making it convenient for professionals who need to travel at short notice. Our understanding is that most decisions will be made by an immigration ‘bot’. However, where there are complications such as adverse immigration history or prior criminality, human review will be required by the UK Home Office. Accordingly, an application could take several days to be processed or in the worst-case scenario, be outright refused. 

What should you do?

Employers should consider:

• preparing communications to increase awareness of the ETA scheme so international employees and visitors understand the new requirements;
• updating travel policies to increase awareness and ensure ETA compliance;
• implementing a global register to keep track of international movements;
• creating a point of contact for questions and updating intranet information pages;
• seeking specialist advice where any applications are more complex due to adverse immigration history to ensure a smooth application process and mitigate a rejection;
• watching our webinar:  Authorised! An Introduction to ETAs.