Electronic Visa Authorisation for travel to the UK - new ETA

By 1st 4Immigration - #1 UK Immigration Experts -
This is for nationals who don’t normally need a visa to come to the U.K. for holidays or short visits. Also known as non-visa nationals. 

You could continue to visit “visa-free” but would have to get a pre-authorisation online under the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). It’s the same principle as the USA has had for many years now. If the online system “approves”, you can head to the airport. If not, you would need to apply for a Visitor visa. 

From 27 November 2024 ETA will become available to most non-visa nationals: Americans, Australians, Malaysians , Japanese, Brazilians etc.  You can check your nationality here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-when-you-can-get-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

From 5 March 2025 it will become available to the European tourists. 

The above is only re the Visitor visa. All other visas (Student, Work, Spouse) retain the same rules and procedures as now. Meaning a formal application, evidence (financial etc), waiting for decision. The outcome would be a digital proof of status instead of a BRP card. 

If you normally require a visa to come to the UK on holiday, you would still have to apply for a “proper” Visitor visa as before. Such as nationals of the Philippines , China, India, S. Africa etc. The Rules, the evidence remains the same. 

For immigration advice, Book online consultation here. A call over Zoom or WhatsApp costs £150 if you prefer to talk to a lawyer. An email consultation costs only £120 and we provide answers by the next working day. Advice fee counts towards our future services with a visa application, so the final fee is the same, just split into 2 stages. 


1st 4Immigration is one of the most experienced UK immigration law companies, OISC – accredited at the highest Level 3. We have been in business for over 15 years, our OISC reference is 200800152, in which 2008 stands for the year accreditation. Office: Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1HN. Website 1st4immigration.com 

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