Visa information

From 27 November 2024, the British government has introduced the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for visitors to the UK who do not require a visa for their travel (e.g. students from specified nationalities coming for study of 6 months or shorter). Please see this video from the Home Office for more information on ETA: Getting Started: Applying For a UK ETA

Although a visa is not required for short visits (depending upon nationality), an ETA will now be required before travel to the UK can be made. The ETA is authorisation from the British government that travel can be made. An ETA is purely for those countries with which an agreement already exists for entry without a visa. Therefore, The ETA is not a visa, and it is not a guarantee of entry but will be required before travel can be made.  An ETA is merely permission to travel to or through the UK. Nationalities not listed do not need to apply for an ETA, they only apply for a visitor visa. A visa holder does not require an ETA.

Travellers from Europe

Attendees from the following list of countries will be required to apply for an ETA, but not a visa (apply from 05 March 2025).

Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

Any attendees from a country not listed above will need to apply for a visitor visa:

Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor: Overview - GOV.UK

Travellers from the Americas

Attendees from the following list of countries will be required to apply for an ETA (apply from 27 November 2024).

Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay, United States of America.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

Any attendees from a country not listed above will need to apply for a visitor visa:

Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor: Overview - GOV.UK

Travellers from Africa

Attendees from the following list of countries will be required to apply for an ETA (apply from 27 November 2024).

Botswana, Mauritius, Seychelles.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

Any attendees from a country not listed above will need to apply for a visitor visa:

Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor: Overview - GOV.UK

Travellers from Asia

Attendees from the following list of countries will be required to apply for an ETA (apply from 27 November 2024).

Bahrain, Brunei, Hong Kong SAR, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Macao SAR, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, UAE.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

Any attendees from a country not listed above will need to apply for a visitor visa:

Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor: Overview - GOV.UK

Travellers from Pacific / Oceania

Attendees from the following list of countries will be required to apply for an ETA (apply from 27 November 2024).

Australia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

Any attendees from a country not listed above will need to apply for a visitor visa:

Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor: Overview - GOV.UK

Further Guidance on the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

Who does not need an ETA

If you are a national of a country not stated anywhere above, you do not currently need an ETA.
Check if your nationality can apply later.

You do not need an ETA if any of these apply to you:

• you have a visa
• you have permission to live, work or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme)
• you are a British or Irish citizen
• you are travelling with a British Overseas Territories citizen passport
• you live in Ireland, and you are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man

Dual citizens

If you are a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship, you do not need an ETA. Prove your permission to travel using your British passport, Irish passport or other passport containing a certificate of entitlement.

What you can do with an ETA

Attendees from a country listed anywhere above can get an ETA instead of a visa if you are:

• coming to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study
• coming to the UK for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession
• coming to the UK for a permitted paid engagement
• transiting through the UK – including if you are not going through UK border control

If you are coming to the UK for another reason, check if you need a visa instead.

What you cannot do with an ETA

You cannot:

• stay in the UK for longer than 6 months
• do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, unless you are doing a permitted paid engagement or event or work on the Creative Worker visa concession
• claim public funds (benefits)
• live in the UK through frequent or successive visits
• marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership - you will need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa