UK travel rules change for non-Europeans from Wednesday

An airline passenger pulling a suitcase
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Non-European visitors or those transiting through the UK without a visa will need to secure a £10 digital permit from Wednesday.

The Home Office is broadening the scope of the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system, first introduced in November 2023. Currently, an ETA – a digital permission to travel – is only required for nationals of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

However, from Wednesday, it will be mandatory for non-Europeans entering the UK without legal residence rights or a visa, and for all travellers from April 2. British and Irish citizens are exempt. Applications for an ETA can be made via the UK ETA app or the gov.uk website.

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ETAs are digitally linked to a traveller’s passport. The Home Office states that they ensure "more robust security checks are carried out before people begin their journey to the UK", helping to prevent "abuse of our immigration system".

Each ETA allows multiple trips to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years, or until the holder’s passport expires if that is sooner. Over 243,000 Gulf nationals were issued with ETAs in the first half of 2024, according to Home Office figures.

Heathrow airport has blamed the scheme for a 90,000 drop in transfer passenger numbers on routes included in the system since its launch. It described the programme as "devastating for our hub competitiveness" and called on the Government to "review" the inclusion of airside transit passengers.

An airline passenger pulling a suitcase
-Credit:PA Archive/PA Images