UK entry formalities for foreign nationals

The UK has introduced its Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) program for foreign travelers exempt from UK visa requirements. This online travel authorization process for travel to the United Kingdom concerns :

• Tourist stays
• Family or friendly visits
• Business travel
• Short-term student stays
• Passengers in transit

To apply for an ETA online in just a few minutes, simply click on the online form.

The list of member countries of the Visa Waiver Program is updated regularly. The number of countries eligible for ETA authorization is gradually increasing.

The first countries to obtain the ETA system for the United Kingdom were Middle Eastern countries:

• From November 15, 2023: ETA replaces visa for England from Qatar
• Since February 1, 2024: An ETA replaces the visa for England from Saudi Arabia

All European countries will soon be added to the UK’s ETA system. From March 2, 2025, European nationals will be able to apply for an ETA online, rather than obtaining a visa for England from France, for example.

What are the different types of English visa?

There are several different English visas for travel to the UK. The type of visa depends mainly on :

• The origin of the traveller
• The reason for the trip
• Length of stay

The main visas used to stay in the UK are the English business visa, the student visa and the tourist visa.

What are the formalities for tourist travel to the United Kingdom?

Formalities for short-term tourist stays depend on the traveler’s profile. Foreign tourists are mainly found in the following three situations:

• The traveller is an Irish citizen, therefore visa-free for travel to the UK
• The traveler is a citizen of a visa-exempt country until 2024: This is the case for all European citizens, Americans and many other countries. Citizens of these countries will soon need to obtain an ETA before traveling to the UK.
• The traveler is a national of a country already eligible for ETA, such as Qatar or Saudi Arabia.
• The traveler is a citizen of a country requiring a visa to visit the UK for tourism: The traveler must apply for a UK tourist visa. The process is carried out online, and is linked to a British embassy. It is finalized during a visa interview at the embassy.

Do I need an ETA to transit the UK?

When a traveler transits the UK, he or she must be in possession of an administrative authorization. This authorization may be a transit visa or a UK ETA. This obligation also applies to travelers who do not pass through British border control: for simple transit through a British airport, you must first obtain an ETA for transit through the UK.

What are the main destinations within the UK?

England’s capital is the most popular destination for entering the UK. Travelers apply for a London visa when they travel to England. It’s not the only English destination: travelers also make numerous requests for a Liverpool visa or a Manchester visa application. England’s major university towns also welcome many tourists, who obtain a visa to travel to Oxford, or further north of London with a visa to Cambridge.

Farther north in the UK, many travellers buy a visa for Birmingham, England. Some travel even further north in Scotland, with a visa for the capital Edinburgh or a visa for Glasgow.

Wales is also a destination for foreign travelers. Travelers must have a visa for Cardiff.

What you can do with UK ETA authorization

You can use an ETA to travel to the UK instead of a visa when your stay is :

• A trip of less than 6 months for tourism, visiting relatives or short-term study. The trip may also be for business purposes;
• A stay of less than 3 months that falls under the creative worker visa exception;
• A stay as part of an authorized paid activity ;
• Transit on British territory.

What you can’t do with UK ETA authorization

You cannot travel to the UK with an ETA for the following reasons:

• Travelling for more than 6 consecutive months in the United Kingdom ;
• Working for a British company or as a freelancer ;
• Apply for public funding in the form of grants or subsidies;
• Settling down to live permanently in the UK;
• Get married or register a civil union.