UK visa

Many visitors to the UK require a visa. In addition, even travelers from visa-exempt countries will have to obtain travel authorization (ETA UK) in the future. Learn about the most important UK visas and the new ETA.

Travelers who want to go to the UK and are neither British nor Irish citizens nor exempt from the visa requirement need a visa from the British embassies or consulates to enter the United Kingdom.

The following nationalities do not need to apply for a visa to travel to the UK:

Until now, nationals of these countries could only enter the UK with their passports and stay there for up to six months. However, this will change with the introduction of ETA UK, an electronic travel authorization for the United Kingdom.

The following travelers can also enter the UK visa-free:

• British nationals of the United Kingdom
• Nationals of the British Overseas Territories
• British protected persons
• British subjects without the right of abode in the United Kingdom

ETA UK is an electronic travel authorization planned to be introduced in 2024 for travel to the UK. The new requirement for visa-exempt visitors is part of the UK government's overhaul of the border and immigration system.

Introducing the ETA UK will mean that travelers from more than 80 visa-exempt countries will have to make additional efforts to enter the country in the future: they will have to apply for an ETA online.

Systems similar to the ETA UK are already being used in the USA (ESTA), Kanada (eTA), Australia (eVisitor), and New Zealand (NZeTA) to ensure the internal security of the respective countries. The new ETIAS for the European economic area is to come between 2023 and 2024.

If you hold an approved ETA UK, you will be allowed to stay in the UK for tourism, business, or transit for up to six months. ETA UK rights may also be extended to other permitted activities such as short-term study or medical treatments. We will inform you on this website as soon as there is any news from the British government.

ETA UK will be phased in between 2023 and 2024.

If you are a Qatari national, you will need an ETA if you travel to the UK on or after November 15th, 2023. You can apply for one from October 25th.

If you are a national of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, or the United Arab Emirates, you will need an ETA if you are traveling to the UK on or after February 22nd, 2024. You can apply for an ETA from February 1st, 2024.

If you are a national of another country, you do not need to apply for an ETA yet. Other nationalities will be added to the scheme at a later date.

An electronic travel authorization for the United Kingdom will cost £10 per applicant.

If you wish to travel to the United Kingdom visa-free with a UK ETA, your trip is likely subject to specific visa-free travel regulations. These typically are:

• You are not allowed to work while in the UK (exceptions may apply for approved paid engagements for short periods).
• You may not register a marriage or civil partnership during your trip.
• You must demonstrate, upon request, that you have sufficient financial resources to fund your stay in the UK and travel back to your home country.
• You intend to leave the UK at the end of your maximum six-month stay.

In addition, there will likely be other requirements along the lines of other electronic travel authorizations worldwide. These could be:

• You are in good health and pose no financial risk to the UK.
• You have not been or are not in conflict with the law and have never been criminally convicted.
• You have never been deported, expelled, or excluded from a country.
• You do not pose a threat to UK security, public order, or the public interest.

If you meet all of these criteria and you are from one of the visa-waiver ETA countries, then there is likely to be nothing standing in the way of your UK Electronic Travel Authorization.

In the new application process for the ETA UK, you will probably be asked for the following documents or data:

• Personal data such as your name and gender
• Passport details
• Information about your planned trip
• The first overnight address in the UK

Officials and websites can also ask about your current employer, your state of health, and certain events in your CV like arrests or violations of the visa law.

Enter your personal information so that it exactly matches your passport. This includes all punctuation marks, spaces, hyphens, apostrophes, or periods.

Correct entry of your details is important as your ETA UK will be digitally linked to your passport. If the dates differ, you will not be allowed to enter the UK. That's why it's also important to apply for a new ETA when you get a new passport.

Traveling with an electronic travel authorization is always easier, cheaper, and faster than a visa, as an ETA does not require paper forms or a visit to the British embassy or consulate.

An ETA is usually granted within a few minutes or hours, while you often have to wait several weeks or months for a visa. The only disadvantages that are often cited are the shorter length of stay and limited rights, but this does not affect the travel plans of most tourists and business travelers.

Anyone dealing with visa issues related to travel to the United Kingdom will automatically stumble across the term “Electronic Visa Waiver” (EVW) at some point. The British electronic visa waiver is an exemption from the visa requirement that certain travelers can currently obtain.

Citizens of the following countries can apply for an EVW:

• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates

An approved EVW entitles you to travel to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, business, study, or medical purposes. It must be requested between 3 months and 48 hours before traveling to the UK and currently costs £ 30.

You can apply for an ETA UK after the introduction of the electronic travel authorization on the ETA application page of our partner iVisa. Please have your passport, a valid email address, and a home address ready.

During the application, you will also be asked questions about your biography, health, and the reason for your trip. Answer everything truthfully and compare all the information again at the end.

After submitting your application, the British government will check your identity. This can take ten minutes, but sometimes days. If your ETA UK has been approved, you will receive the travel authorization by email.

If you are not only planning a tourist or business trip but also planning to work, study, or stay with your family in the United Kingdom for a longer period, you will need one of the available UK visas. Also, if you do not meet the requirements for the ETA, you will need to apply for a visa to travel to the UK. The most popular UK visa categories include:

• Work visa
• Student visa
• Family visa
• Visitor visa
• Transit visa
• Settlement visa

Before planning a trip to the UK, find out exactly what type of entry permit you need and familiarize yourself with the Entry requirements for the UK.