Business travel to the UK: Understanding the new UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme

Being a business visitor is often far from straightforward, with plenty of rules, regulations and requirements to consider.

What is an ETA?

Since 2024, the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, has been rolled out to various foreign nationals, becoming applicable to EU nationals from 2 April 2025.  It is now a requirement to travel to the UK. It is not a visa.  it is permission to travel to the UK.

An ETA currently costs £10 and allows multiple visits to the UK of up to 6 months over a 2-year period, or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner.  An ETA is not a visa, it is a digital permission to travel.

This pre-entry scheme is part of the UK government’s efforts to enhance border security while facilitating smoother entry for eligible travellers.

For business visitors, understanding the ETA scheme is crucial to ensure compliance and avoid disruptions to travel plans.

Who needs an ETA?

The UK ETA is required for nationals from certain countries who previously did not need a visa to enter the UK for short stays. The scheme applies EU and Swiss nationals (from  2 April 2025) and visa-exempt travellers from the USA, Canada and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and other selected nations – see the full list here.

Travellers who need an ETA must obtain approval before boarding their flight, ferry or train to the UK.

The ETA is linked electronically to the traveller’s passport and allows for multiple short visits within its validity period.

To read more about what you can and can't do under an ETA, head on over to Abbiss Cadres' website to read the full article here.