The UK ETA Continues to Expand
Since its initial launch for Gulf Cooperation Council nationals, the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme has progressively expanded to include more nationalities. The goal is to eventually require all non-visa nationals to hold an ETA before travelling to the United Kingdom.
Timeline of the ETA Rollout
The ETA was introduced in phases to ensure a smooth transition:
- Phase 1: Qatar was the first country to be included as part of a pilot programme
- Phase 2: The scheme expanded to all six GCC states — UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan
- Phase 3: A major expansion brought in nationals from across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa — including the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and many more
Who Needs an ETA Now?
As of 2025, the ETA requirement applies to nationals of over 40 countries who were previously able to visit the UK without any form of pre-travel authorisation. The full list of eligible nationalities is available on our application page, and we update it as new countries are added.
What This Means for Travellers
If your nationality has been added to the ETA list, you must apply for an ETA before travelling to the UK. This applies even if you have visited the UK many times before without any prior authorisation. Airlines will check your ETA status at check-in and may deny boarding if you do not have one.
How to Check If You Need an ETA
The simplest way is to visit our application page and check whether your nationality appears in the dropdown list. If it does, you need an ETA. If your nationality is not listed, you may either not need an ETA (for example, EU and Swiss nationals currently do not need one) or you may require a full visa instead.
Future Expansion
The UK government has indicated that the ETA requirement will eventually extend to European nationals as well, though a specific date has not been confirmed. We will update our readers as soon as any new announcements are made.
Apply Early
If you are travelling to the UK and your nationality now requires an ETA, we recommend applying as soon as your travel plans are confirmed. The application process is quick and simple, but applying early avoids any last-minute complications.
