UK to expand Digital travel to more visitors

The UK Government says it is digitising the UK border and immigration system to enhance security and improve the experience for travellers.

By April 2025, all visitors who do not need a visa will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation to travel to the UK. Migrants in the UK with physical immigration documents should take action now to access their eVisa and benefit from its features, states a release from the British High Commission. The UK Government is taking major steps towards delivering its ambitious aim to digitise the UK border and immigration system and has set out new implementation dates for the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. Everyone wishing to travel to the UK – except British and Irish citizens – will need permission to travel in advance. This can be either through an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) or an eVisa.

As of November 27, 2024, eligible non-Europeans can apply for an ETA,and will need an ETA to travel from January, 8, 2025. ETAs will then extend to eligible Europeans from March, 5, 2025, who will need at ETA to travel from April, 2, 2025.

ETAs are digitally linked to a traveller’s passport and ensure more robust security checks are carried out before people begin their journey to the UK, “helping to prevent abuse of our immigration system”, the release adds. An ETA costs £10 and permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner.

Information about ETA eligibility is currently available on GOV.UK, and anyone needing to apply for an ETA will be able to do so through a quick and simple process using the UK ETA app. Gulf Cooperation Council visitors already need an ETA to travel to the UK. Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Seema Malhotra, said:

“Digitisation enables a smooth experience for the millions of people who pass through the border every year, including the visitors we warmly welcome to the UK who are predicted to contribute over £32billion to our tourism economy this year. The worldwide expansion of the ETA demonstrates our commitment to enhance security through new technology and embedding a modern immigration system.”

People who need a UK visa to live, work or study in the UK are now issued with an eVisa, providing digital proof of immigration status, instead of physical immigration documents which can be lost, stolen, or tampered with. eVisas mean people no longer have to wait for or travel to collect a physical document, streamlining their experience. The UK Government is asking migrants in the UK who currently use a physical immigration document, including a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), or a passport containing ink stamps or visa vignette stickers, to take action now and create an online account to access their eVisa at gov.uk/eVisa. Most BRPs are due to expire on December, 31, 2024, and BRP holders are urged to take action before their BRP expires. All inquires regarding the ETA can be sent via email to :bhc.svg@fcdo.gov.uk or Tel No: 784-457-0784.