UK Electronic Travel Authorization required starting January 8, 2025

Starting January 8, 2025, U.S. citizens, Canadians, and non-European travelers must get an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter or travel through the United Kingdom. European citizens and visa-exempt travelers must have an ETA starting April 2. Only British and Irish citizens are excluded from this requirement.

The ETA is required for short stays (up to six months) for purposes such as tourism, business, family visits, or short-term study.

Applying

To avoid issues with boarding flights or entering the UK, secure your ETA well before you travel. Processing time takes approximately 3 days but may take more or less time.

For the January 8 start date, you can begin applying for an ETA now. For April 2, apply starting March 5. Travel before these dates is excluded.

Apply using the online application or the UK ETA app. Visit Apply for an ETA for further instructions.

You will need:

• A valid passport.
• A digital headshot.
• Your travel details.
• A payment method.

Cost: The cost is £10, which will be converted to the appropriate currency.

Reimbursement: This expense will be an allowable reimbursable expense if you don’t currently have an ETA and need it for Cornell business travel.

Expiration: Your ETA will be digitally linked to your passport. It is valid for two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

For more information, visit the UK government’s ETA website.

If you have questions not covered above or on the ETA site, please contact the Cornell Concur Support Team.