You may have heard that changes are coming in 2025 on how the United Kingdom and the European Union control their borders. Note: Irish visitors will not require an ETA due to the Common Travel Area (CTA).
The key changes are as follows:
Entering the UK for a short stay / ETA:
There are important changes to be aware of if travelling to the UK. If you don’t need a visa and you are travelling for a short stay of less than six months, you will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which is a digital permission to travel.
Non-European Visitors:
- An ETA will be mandatory for travel to the UK from 8 January 2025.
- Can apply for an ETA from 27 November 2024.
European Visitors:
- An ETA will be mandatory for travel to the UK from 2 April 2025
- Can apply for an ETA from 5 March 2025.
You can check your ETA requirements and apply on the official UK government website.
Irish visitors will not require an ETA due to the Common Travel Area (CTA).
Entering the EU / EES and ETIAS:
The EU is introducing two new border management systems:
- Entry Exit System (EES) for non-EU nationals: this is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals, travelling for a short stay. Check the official Entry/Exit System website for more details.
- European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) for people from visa-exempt non-EU countries, such as the UK. This will require an application, for which a small fee is payable, for an ETIAS authorisation to enter 30 European countries for a short stay (defined as up to 90 days within any 180 day period). Check the official ETIAS website for more details.