UK introduces electronic badges for Europeans: what you need to know about ETAs
Getty Images
From 2 April 2025, citizens of most European countries - including all EU countries except Ireland - will not be able to enter the UK without first obtaining an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation). This measure applies even to short-term visits and applies to all travellers, including children and infants.
The ETA is essentially the British equivalent of the US ESTA or the European ETIAS, which is planned to be introduced in the EU by 2026. The permit costs £10 (€12) but will rise to £16 from 9 April. The ETA is valid for two years and allows up to six months in the country per visit.
The application process takes place via a mobile app or the UK government's website. The process takes about 10 minutes and requires uploading a passport photo and selfies, as well as answering a few standard questions. A decision is usually made within a few minutes, but the UK Home Office recommends applying in advance - at least three working days before travelling.
Once issued, the permit is digitally linked to the passport - there is no need to print anything out. Holders of a British residence permit or those who already have visa status in the UK do not need an ETA.
Irish citizens are the only EU citizens not subject to the ETA requirement due to the special provisions of the Common Travel Area between Ireland and the UK. Passengers connecting at Heathrow or Manchester without leaving the airport's transit area are also not required to obtain an ETA.
The British government came to this concession after pressure from Heathrow Airport, which feared the loss of transit passenger traffic - it handled almost 84 million people in 2024, a third of whom came from EU countries.
ETA was first introduced in 2023 for Qatari nationals, and later expanded to five more Gulf countries. Argentina, South Korea, New Zealand and others have joined since January 2024. According to the UK Home Office, almost 1.1 million ETAs have been issued up to the end of 2024.
Migration Minister Seema Malhotra said: "Digitalisation of the migration system paves the way for a contactless border. The expansion of ETA is our contribution to security through technology."
