Americans must pay to visit the UK starting in January — how to apply now

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Starting January 2025, the United Kingdom will require travelers to obtain a new electronic travel authorization (ETA) to enter the country.

This requirement applies to all visitors (regardless of age) who can travel there visa-free, including Americans. The requirement was launched earlier in 2024 for visitors from the Gulf Cooperation Council states.

Now, from Jan. 8, 2025, the authorization program will also be rolled out to travelers from the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and others — the requirement will expand to the rest of the EU in April, with those applications opening from March.

ETA applications for Americans and other nationalities opened on Nov. 27, 2024, for travel beginning Jan. 8, 2025. The cost to apply is 10 pounds ($13) and will be valid for multiple visits up to a maximum duration of six months over two years.

Travelers must apply for an ETA online before they travel and will be required to upload a photo. Per U.K. officials, it will take up to three business days to obtain clearance. If you are planning to take a trip over the pond in the new year it would be wise to submit your application now — which you can do so on the U.K. government website here.

Alternatively you can also apply using the U.K. government app, available on iOS and Android.

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Along with paying for the application, you'll be required to take or upload a photo of the passport you will use to travel to the U.K. and scan your face with your device if it has a camera — children aged 9 and under do not need to scan their face. You'll also need to take or upload a photo of yourself and answer some personal questions.

"ETAs will be a requirement worldwide for visitors who do not need a visa for short stays, including those visiting from Europe," the Home Office said in a statement to TPG earlier this year. "Visitors from Europe and other nations such as America and Australia do not currently need to make any form of application to visit the U.K. However, this will be changing with the introduction of ETAs."

Because the ETA is not a visa, Europeans and other visa-free travelers, including those from the U.S., will maintain their visa-free status but will still need an ETA to cross the U.K. border upon implementation. The program is similar to the ESTA application required for non-U.S. citizens to visit the United States.

Bottom line

TPG has reported on the progress of the British electronic travel authorization throughout the last year. The program is set to go live on Jan. 8, 2025 and travelers can start applying now.

Related reading:

• Here are 13 places you need a visa to travel with an American passport
• Brazil to require visas from Americans starting next month
• The best credit cards for international travel
• How to avoid overpaying for a travel visa on an airline website