Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
As the Home Office are moving to a digital immigration system, the ETA scheme has been introduced for all non-visa nationals visiting the UK.
New Travel Requirements
All travellers to the UK – except British and Irish citizens – will need permission to travel in advance through either an ETA or an eVisa. Anyone who is a visa national and currently needs to obtain a visa to visit the UK will continue to apply for a visa and will not be eligible for an ETA. If you did not previously need a visa to visit the UK for short stays of up to six months (e.g. for tourism or business trips), and do not already have a UK immigration status (e.g. a work visa), you will need an ETA.
Visitors to the University will need to ensure that you hold the correct permissions to enter the UK (whether this is an ETA or a visa).
If you are a non-visa national and visiting the University for any of the reasons below you will be required to apply for an ETA:
- Attending a job interview
- Attending a business meeting
- Attending or speaking at a conference or seminar
- Giving a one-off or short series of talks/lectures
- A Student examiner or assessor
- Coming to the University as a Visting Scholar
- A visit of any other type, for up to 6 months
The Home Office have announced the dates of the ETA rollout for eligible nationals:
- From 23 November 2024, Gulf Cooperation Council nationals.
- From 08 January 2025, eligible non-Europeans will need an ETA to travel to the UK. (dates can apply)
- From 02 April 2022, eligible Europeans will need an ETA to travel to the UK. (dates an apply)
Other nationalities cannot get an ETA. Check if you need a visa instead.
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Applying for an ETA
Eligible visitors should apply for an ETA in advance of travelling to the UK. You can find out when to do so here. Most applications will be processed within hours.
An ETA costs £10 and permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner. Once granted, ETAs are digitally linked to a traveller’s passport.
Once granted, ETAs are digitally linked to a traveller’s passport.
- Entering the UK from the Republic of Ireland
Some visitors to Belfast may enter the UK through the Republic of Ireland (ROI), the Common Travel Area (CTA) involves some co-operation on immigration issues between the UK and Ireland. If you are entering the UK through the ROI, e.g. via Dublin Airport, it is important to note that you may be refused permission to enter ROI if you are unable to evidence that you qualify for admission to the UK. In other words, when entering the UK via Dublin Airport (for example), an individual must be able to evidence their immigration status by presenting either an eVisa or ETA.
Non-Irish residents of Ireland from a nationality that does not usually need a visa to visit the UK, do not need an ETA when travelling to the UK within the CTA, provided they hold acceptable evidence of their residence status.
Non-Irish residents of Ireland who are travelling to the UK from outside of the CTA need an ETA before they travel, once required for their nationality.