Eligibility for the UK ETA

The United Kingdom Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is being introduced in phases for nationals of specific countries. The scheme began with a limited group of nationalities and has gradually expanded over time, first focusing on travelers from the Gulf region and later including additional non-European and European countries. The most recent phase of the rollout, completed in April 2025, brought many EU citizens into the scope of the ETA requirement. As a result, more travelers are now required to obtain an ETA before boarding a flight or entering the UK through eligible routes.

The ETA requirement was first launched for Qatari nationals on 15 November 2023. As part of the initial expansion, from 1 February 2024, nationals of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Jordan became eligible to apply for an ETA, which was then required for travel starting on 22 February 2024. In September 2024, Jordan was removed from the list of eligible nationalities. On 27 November 2024, the UK extended the ETA scheme to an additional 49 non-European countries, significantly widening the group of travelers covered by the system. The latest update, implemented on 5 March 2025, introduced 34 European countries whose nationals could begin applying for a UK ETA from that date. From 2 April 2025 onwards, travelers from these countries must hold a valid ETA in order to travel to the United Kingdom. Currently, nationals of the countries listed below are required to obtain a UK ETA in advance of their trip.