Traveling to or through the United Kingdom in 2025? Make sure that you apply for the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before you fly!

We travel to Scotland at least once a year and stay for a few weeks visiting our daughter who is a student at Edinburgh University. We have a trip planned for June/July when she is scheduled to graduate (fingers crossed).

Great Britain was always an easy place for US travelers to visit. Easy to navigate, no language issues. But starting on January 8, 2025 it is going to be a bit harder to visit. The United Kingdom will implement the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) requirement for travelers from countries that do not currently require a visa to enter the UK, even when just catching a connection through a UK airport with a destination in another country. This includes citizens from the United States, Canada, and many other nations.

The UK ETA is a digital travel authorization that travelers must obtain prior to entering the UK. It is designed to enhance border security and streamline the immigration process.

The ETA will also be required for travelers with connecting flights in the UK, even if they do not pass through UK border control. The rationale behind requiring an ETA for transit passengers is to improve national security and ensure that all individuals traveling through UK airports are pre-screened. This measure helps prevent individuals from using connecting flights to bypass visa requirements.

Persons requiring an ETA to visit or transit Great Britain include:
- U.S., Canadian, and other non-European Citizens: Required starting January 8, 2025.
- European Citizens: Required starting April 2, 2025.
- British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA.

Travelers can apply for an ETA through the official UK government website or via the UK ETA app, which will be available on both iOS and Android platforms. The application process opens on November 27, 2024, for U.S. and Canadian travelers. The steps are:
• Complete the Online Application: When applying for an ETA, you will need:
• A valid passport (the same one you will travel with).
• A recent digital photo of yourself.
• An email address for confirmation.
• Payment method (credit/debit card or mobile payment options).
• Pay the Fee: The application fee is £10 (approximately $13), which is non-refundable.

Most applications will be processed within three working days, but it may take longer if additional checks are needed.

Once approved, your ETA will be electronically linked to your passport and valid for up to two years, allowing multiple entries into the UK during that time. Each stay can last up to six months.

So if you're planning to visit the UK in 2025, or if you have connecting flights in the UK, make sure to apply for your Electronic Travel Authorization ahead of time.

I just completed my ETA.

I did it using the phone app, since that made it easier to capture a photo of my passport and a photo of myself. The process was pretty easy, except that the passport RFID electronic scan did not work properly, but I was able to skip that part of the process. I received my approval email in about 2 hours. So for me, it was not that burdensome. But make sure that you take care of yours early, in case you hit some snags.

Happy travels!