Starting 8 Jan 2025, residents from visa-free countries (like Singapore) will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK! Here’s what you need to know.
Travelling to the United Kingdom soon? If you’re from Singapore or countries that currently don’t require visas to visit the UK for tourism purposes, you’ll now need to apply for an Electric Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter in 2025!
Read on to learn more about this new requirement, and how it works.
When do you need an ETA?
An ETA is needed instead of a UK visa if you are…
– Staying for up to 6 months — for tourism, visiting family and friends, business, or short-term study
– Transiting through the UK, even if you are not passing through border control
– Visiting for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession
– Visiting for a permitted paid engagement
For cases not listed above — like staying longer than 6 months, or doing any type of work — a UK visa is needed.
Who should apply for an ETA?
Applying for the Electric Travel Authorisation is mandated for visa-exempt travellers across many countries — regardless of the mode of transport used (air, sea or land).
Travellers from certain countries (like Singapore) are able to apply for an ETA now, while some can only apply from 5 March 2025 onwards. Read the full list here.
On the contrary, an ETA is not required for people who:
1) Have a visa
2) Have permission to live, work or study in the UK
3) Are British or Irish citizens
4) Are dual citizens with either British or Irish citizenship, to be proven with your passport (or a certificate of entitlement)
5) Are travelling with a British overseas territories citizen passport
6) Live in Ireland, and travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
How to apply for an ETA
Photo credit: Apple App Store
Applying for an ETA is easy: simply download the official mobile app (App Store / Google Play) or do it online. The process takes around 10 minutes, and requires you to upload a photo of your passport and face.
You have to fill out a separate ETA for everyone travelling — infants and children included. To make things easier for groups, one person can apply for everyone, but it must be done online (i.e. not the mobile app).
Again, an ETA is required even if you’re just transiting through the UK.
It costs £10 (~S$17) for an application, which can be paid through credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
Expect a response e-mailed to you within 3 working days, although UK Immigration notes that it may be less or more than that. So do factor in some time for applications to go through before your trip!
Once approved, an ETA is valid for two years. However, getting a new passport also means you have to apply for a new ETA.
What happens if I get rejected?
Fret not! A person will manually review your ETA application should it be rejected by their automation process. They will e-mail you with a reason why your application was unsuccessful (like incomplete info), so you can apply again.
However, you could be refused an ETA if they have flagged you out for other things like having a visa previously cancelled, a criminal conviction, etc. In this case, you will need to apply for a visa.
Planning your UK trip
While you wait for your ETA to be approved, why not use the time to plan out your UK itinerary? Check out some of our guides to help you:
– 9D UK Itinerary Under S$3k — From London to Scotland
– Harry Potter London Itinerary: The Quintessential Guide To 4 Days in London for All Potterheads
– UK By Rail: 10D Scotland, Wales And London Itinerary Under S$1,400
Any other helpful info to share regarding the new UK ETA? Let us know in the comments below!
