In force since 2 April

You need Eta to enter the UK: how to apply and what it entails

As of 2 April, all EU citizens must hold Eta to visit the UK. Find out how this travel permit works and what its implications are.

by Nicol Degli Innocenti

5 March 2025Aggiornato il 2 aprile 2025 alle ore 7.45

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The Eta era for Italians who want to visit the United Kingdom comes into full swing:EU citizens can apply for the Electronic travel authorisation as of 5 March. The electronic travel authorisation is required for everyone - adults, children and babies included - as of 2 April.

The Eta costs ten pounds (approximately 12 euros), can be applied for online, is linked to the applicant's passport and lasts for two years. It is not a visa but a digital travel permit, like the one needed to visit the United States.

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Once obtained, Eta allows multiple visits to the UK for stays of up to six consecutive months over a two-year period or until the holder's passport expires.

How to ask for Eta

Those wishing to visit the UK should therefore visit the gov.uk website or download the Uk Eta app from Google play or the Apple app store. You need to provide your contact details and passport information, a compliant photograph and answer a series of questions.

The UK authorities' advice is to expect a three-day wait in case of additional verifications, but in most cases applicants will get an automatic response within minutes.

The British authorities emphasised that the introduction of ETA is 'in line with the approach taken by many other countries to border security, including the United States and Australia' and is intended to 'help prevent the arrival of individuals who pose a threat to the UK'.

If an Eta application is rejected, the reason for rejection is communicated and the person concerned can submit a new application.

If an application for Eta is refused, the person concerned cannot appeal, and if they still wish to obtain permission to travel to the UK, they must apply for a visa.

How much Eta costs and who is exempt

The cost of Eta, which is never refundable, will increase to £16 in the near future.

It should be noted that those who transit the UK without residing and without passing through border controls are exempt from the obligation to apply for an ETA. European citizens who have a permit to stay in the UK for studying or working reasons are also exempt.

Eta was initially only introduced for citizens of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

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The obligation was then extended to all citizens of other countries, including the United States, excluding EU citizens. Now the obligation has been extended to all countries in the world. Only Irish citizens are exempt.

The European Union announced its intention to introduce a similar system, Etias (European Travel Information and Authorisation System), a three-year electronic visa, but its entry into force has been postponed 'for technical reasons'.