New for 2025: ETA now required to travel to UK
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta
ETA needs to be renewed every 2 years. Supposedly to improve efficiency. Millions of travelers to be affected. Airlines will likely inform you when you buy tickets; otherwise, landing at Heathrow will be problematic.
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Although I am not scheduled to be in UK until next October, I am considering getting my ETA earlier due to two European trips earlier in the year. Although I have NS flights to and from the U.S. for those trips, thinking it would be good to have option to change in Heathrow in case of flight cancellations. Pretty unbelievable that there are not provisions for travelers to even change planes in Heathrow without the ETA.
It's is a security program. It lets them check you out before you arrive. The USA has had a program like this since 2009. The US ESTA costs $21 for two years. https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/esta
If I recall, you can get a UK ETA now but it's not required until January 8th for US travelers. It's about $13 and good for two years.
The EU will have a similar program but it keeps getting delayed.
edgee makes a good point about having it in case you have to go to the UK, even to change planes, at the last minute.
The UK does not want you coming into their country without being checked out, even if you're just changing planes.
So what happens if you have a last minute flight change that wasn't originally going thru LHR, but now you are3?
Could get interesting.
I think the entire concept for transiting through an airport is dumb and simply a money grab.
I'm with edgee. I'll get the UK ETA "just in case" I have to reroute through the UK. The ETIAS -- a different requirement -- will be free for people over 70 (as many of us are). The effective date does keep getting pushed back.
My guess is (if you don't have an ETA) you'll be sidelined while you fill out an ETA application and then they will check you out, the way they would have done if you had gotten an ETA. If you have a tight connection, you're could have some problems. Their attitude is likely to be, "You should have known about this requirement so I'm not going to bust my a** to speed you along."
Just to add to MCD's comments on ETIAS (for the EU), it will be good for three years while the ETA is only good for two years.
[Side note: I found this on the ETIAS website - "Travelers without an ETIAS may not be allowed to board flights to Europe, or will likely be denied entry upon arriving in the EU."]
Unclear if you will be able to get the UK ETA at the last minute, as the instructions say/imply you may have to wait up to three days to get it approved, although most if the time responses will be much faster.
You may not be able to board the aircraft to the UK if you don't already have an ETA.
Quick question. Does anyone know if it is better to apply for the ETA from a cell phone or a desktop computer? There is an article from the Wall Street Journal that I just read today that implies a cell phone is easier! I prefer a large screened computer. Any thoughts? I will be applying for this soon for a May trip.
I'm like you. I avoid stupid little screens and stupid little keyboards as much as possible. II can't imagine why a desktop would be more difficult, but even so, I'd do it that way.
Don't forget that if you're only transiting through the UK, and not going through immigration to enter, you don't need the ETA. They made that update just recently.
I think you may require to do it with a phone because it may given you a QR code. Which I guess you might be able to print from your computer.
However, slightly different experience…we printed off tickets for a concert and when we got to the venue, they would not accept them, we had to go to a ticket office to verify. Everyone else had tickets on their phones. Same when we go to the theatre these days, paper tickets are a minority.
UK ETA
I tried 3 times to get ETA on pc. Didn’t work. Website kept saying to use us app. Finally downloaded app and was done in 5 minutes. After they received it, they said I would get a response within 3 days. Approval came within 10 minutes. When paying, it asks for currency. I clicked on US dollar. Cost was $12.88.
Thank you all.
I applied for the ETA on our desktop (not the phone} a few weeks ago without any trouble.
I noticed this when I entered my wife's passport into the United airlines app for our upcoming cruise.
_Visa Requirements - Yes - Documentation Requirements Met You do not need a visa for a maximum of 6 months if you have an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) obtained prior to boarding at www.gov.uk/electronic-travel-authorisation. If you do not have an ETA, you are still allowed to enter. **Passengers will not be refused at the border solely for failure to hold an ETA.**_
Still as joi says, it's so easy to apply. There is iPhone app. The whole process from start to finish was 10 minutes.
As for ETIAS in Europe - not implemented yet.