United Kingdom: Europeans not affected by ETA before 2025?

Initially scheduled for late 2024the full implementation of Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) in the UK could finally take place in early 2025.

The British government has therefore decided to deploy ETA for visa-exempt travellers, with a view to making electronic border management fully operational in the coming months.

Nationals of countries such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait and Oman are already covered by this new system..

Tom PursgloveMinister of State for Immigration, has announced that this authorization will be rolled out in 2 phases:

1. The first phase, covering countries outside Europe, is scheduled for autumn 2024.
2. The second phase, for nationals of the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland, is scheduled for early 2025.

ETA for non-European travellers from 2024

According to the Minister's intentions, here is the list of countries whose citizens will require an ETA when travelling to the UK from autumn 2024: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macau, Marshall Islands, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Solomon Islands, United States, Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, San Marino, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Taiwan, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United States, Uruguay and Vatican City.

ETA for European travellers scheduled for 2025

Citizens of the following European countries will only need to obtain an ETA to travel to the UK from early 2025: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Electronic immigration procedures in the UK

In parallel with this new regulation, the UK has begun to dematerialize immigration procedures by introducing the eVisa system. This digital transformation aims to replace physical immigration documentscalled biometric residence permits, by digital proof of the traveler's immigration status. From summer 2024, holders of such a document will be able to create an account with UK Visas and Immigration to access their eVisa.

This will not only enhance border security, but also simplify life for travelers, who will be able to manage their personal data more easily. In addition, it will provide a more secure means of proving immigration status, and reduce the risk of fraud, loss or misuse of physical documents.

A transition to a border management fully electronic

The eVisa has already been tested and used by millions of travellers as part of Europe's electronic border management program. Its gradual roll-out is part of the UK's strategy to transition to a fully digital border and immigration system by 2025, in order to modernize and secure travel. In this way, the UK intends to move closer to other countries that have already replaced their physical immigration documents with dematerialized versions.

• United Kingdom

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