Aerial view of London and the Tower Bridge, England, United Kingdom. American travelers will now need to apply for an ETA before arrival.
getty
Beginning January 8th, 2025, Americans headed to London, or anywhere in the United Kingdom, will have to file for an ETA—an electronic travel authorization—before arrival.
It is not technically a visa, and the U.K. Visas and Immigration Office makes that clear, since it does not replace any existing visa requirements for travelers from countries who require them.
But, it sort of acts like one for American travelers, since we previously were not required to have any paperwork or incur any cost when entering the U.K.
American travelers will now have to pay $10 to apply for the ETA, and every traveler, regardless of age, must obtain one before being granted access to the country (adults can apply on behalf of children and the elderly). No refunds are given.
The ETA will give each traveler up to 6 months in the U.K. for “tourism, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study.”
To apply, you’ll need your passport, a payment method, and access to an email account. Travelers need to upload photos of their passport as well as their face as part of the application.
The decision on the application will come in three days or less. If approved, the ETA is valid for two years, and you can travel to the U.K. as many times as you want during that time (but not longer than six months).
If you need to travel spontaneously, you can travel to the U.K. while your ETA application is pending, but you must apply before you depart the United States.
The U.K. Visas and Immigration Office created an app where travelers can apply for the ETA. You can learn more about the application process here.
Overall, it’s not the end of the world, but American travelers should be aware of the added cost and, moreso, that they need to remember to do it before crossing the pond.
