eVisas and ETAs: all you need to know about UK visa digital transformation

Updated 19 March 2025

The UK is undergoing a significant transformation of its immigration system towards a fully digital approach. This guide covers two key aspects of this digitalization: eVisas and Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

Non-visa nationals planning to visit Britain in the near future need to be aware that they will be required to apply for the new ETA.

Meanwhile, all those still relying on paper documents to evidence their UK immigration status should ensure they transition to the new eVisa.

If you have any issues with these or other UK immigration matters, please feel free to contact our lawyers on +44(0)207 033 9527 or enquiries@vanessaganguin.com.

Do I need an eVisa?

The eVisa is the online digital proof of immigration status which is taking over from physical immigration documents to prove the right to work, right to rent and other rights, such as benefits and entering the country. Applying for an eVisa is free and it isn’t compulsory if you already have immigration permission, but the UK Government insists it will be a more secure method to share immigration status digitally with employers, landlords and others.

The UK government has announced that four million visa holders have now successfully created an account to access their eVisa. It is urging an estimated 600,000 who are yet to switch from physical documents to an eVisa to do so as soon as possible.

Acknowledging that with a digital transformation affecting so many people there will always be some stragglers and some glitches too, there are transitionary measures. The government has now extended a ‘grace period’ up to 1 June 2025 – a date which will be kept under review. This allows people with a biometric residence permit (BRP) or EUSS biometric residence card (BRC) that expired on or after 31 December 2024, and who continue to hold underlying immigration status, to continue to use their expired document for international travel up to and including 1 June 2025. However from the 2 June 2025, expired BRPs and EUSS BRCs will no longer be acceptable evidence of immigration status when travelling to the UK.

If you have pre-settled status or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or have used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check mobile App’ to make an immigration application, you will already have an eVisa. You should not need to do anything now other than keep UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) updated with your latest passport/national identity card details and contact details.

Since 31 October 2024, successful visa applicants who would have received a biometric residence permit (BRP) in the past will have had an eVisa.

If you have British or Irish citizenship you need not do anything either – you can continue to use your passport to evidence your rights.

Everyone else is warned to transition to the new digital system as soon as possible.

People with a biometric residence permit

Waves of BRP holders were invited in phases by email to create a UKVI account that allows you to access your eVisas. The transition process has now opened for all those with a BRP. A travel document, such as a passport, and a visa application reference number can be used to create a UKVI account if a BRP card has been lost or stolen. Lost or stolen cards should be reported to UKVI.

People with a biometric residence card

If you have a biometric residence card (BRC) and you have been granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme, then you should already have an eVisa and should not need to take any action. There should be details of how to access and use your digital status in the grant letter or email from UKVI. For now, you should continue to carry your BRC with you when you travel internationally.

People with a different physical document

If you have another physical document that can prove indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain such as a vignette or passport stamp, have lost your document or your passport containing your status endorsement or it has expired, you should first make a ‘no time limit’ (NTL) application at www.gov.uk/eVisa. Following a successful application you will be able to transition to a digital immigration status through a UKVI account.

People with indefinite leave to remain

Anyone with indefinite leave to remain (ILR) who uses an ink stamp or vignette in a passport to prove their rights can continue to use their documents as they do today, including for travel, but are still encouraged to make a free No Time Limit (NTL) application to access an eVisa.

How do I apply for an eVisa?

BRP holders must first create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to access the new eVisa on the www.gov.uk/eVisa website. You will need your BRP number or alternatively, the Unique Application Number (UAN) from your last visa application, as well as a valid passport or identity document. You must use the “UK Immigration: ID Check” app on a tablet, smartphone or laptop to confirm your identity with photos of documents and your face, before filling out a short application form to link the UKVI account to an eVisa. You should then receive an email within a few days confirming that your digital eVisa is available. It is worth checking it works before travelling outside the UK.

Everyone must have their own UKVI account. Where a child under the age of 18 is unable to create and manage their own account, a parent or guardian should do this for them. You can read more about creating a UKVI account for a child here.

If you have lost your BRP you should be able to set up a UKVI account using your BRP or UAN number, but you should report your BRP lost or stolen.

Holders of older legacy paper documents such as ink stamps and visa vignettes, whose passports with stamps in have expired or have been lost will need to first make a free ‘no time limit’ (NTL) application (see above), which can then be used to create a UKVI account. The latest Home Office advice suggests that those “who have tried to register for an eVisa customer account but their details cannot be found on HO systems and so they need to enrol biometrics” should also apply for a NTL first. This process is rather longer, so we would caution you to apply sooner rather than later.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns or need any help.

Support for elderly and vulnerable people applying for an eVisa

The biggest challenge will be to ensure that many elderly and vulnerable people, those who may have difficulties accessing the technology or understanding the language are all fully aware of the change and able to access the means to apply for an eVisa.

Many have expressed concerns about the estimated 200,000 older residents with old-style passport endorsements or vignette passport stickers instead of BRPs who risk being caught out.

The Government announced it will free £4 million to voluntary and community organisations including Migrant Help, Citizens Advice Scotland, the Welsh Refugee Council, and Advice NI to support those who need help. The full list found here will be updated as hopefully more organisations join too.

Reporting problems with eVisa applications

The Immigration Law Practitioners Association and the3million campaign group are collating evidence of problems people are experiencing transitioning to a digital status and proving their rights on this online reporting tool to enable calls for changes or improvements to the system.

What HR teams need to know about the eVisa

Human Resources teams should be aware that all BRPs have a standard expiry date of December 31, 2024. You should encourage affected employees to set up UKVI accounts and access their digital status – especially if they have pre-BRP documents and plan to travel abroad.

Right to work checks will increasingly involve share codes as more employees transition to digital accounts and HR staff should always keep up to date with the latest guidance. You should also check the date records show an employee’s right to work expires and be sure to carry out follow up checks where needed. If records show a work visa is valid beyond the expiry of an employee’s BRP on 31 December an employee generally does not need to update to an eVisa. If the right to work check only involved checking the BRP – which was acceptable procedure up to April 2022, a worker should transition to an eVisa so that they can prove their right to work beyond the end of this year.

If an employer has not been provided with any acceptable documents by a non-British or non-Irish hire and is unable to carry out a check using the online service due to a technical issue with the individual’s eVisa or digital immigration status, they should contact the Home Office’s Employer Checking Service (ECS) to establish a statutory excuse against illegal working civil penalties.

If you have any questions regarding this or any right to work practices, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Do I need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)?

Most nationals require a visitor visa for short trips to the UK such as tourism, visiting family, attending events or business trips. So-called non-visa nationals from countries such as the USA, Australia, Japan, EU nations and others who wouldn’t need a visitor visa, will now need prior permission in the form of an Electronic Travel Authorisation. You will need this new digital travel permission to enter the UK as a visitor, a Creative Worker (for up to three months) or for transiting the UK. NB: those transiting through a UK airport ‘airside’, i.e. not passing through border control do not need to apply for an ETA – do check with your airline if you are not sure.

How will the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation work?

The ETA will operate much like the ETIAS authorisation that Brits will soon need for travel to Europe, or the ESTA for the USA. The ETA costs £10 (£16 from 9 April 2025), permits multiple journeys and is valid for two years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner.​​

It allows visits to Britain for up to six months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study, or up to three months on the Creative Worker visa concession.

The ETA also allows travel to the UK as a visitor under the permitted paid engagement or event rules. These apply to professional artists, entertainers, musicians, sportspersons, lawyers representing a client, experts giving lectures or speaking at a conference, academics and air pilot examiners assessing or examining students. Among the requirements, you must have an invite for the prearranged permitted event and the activity must be undertaken in the first month of your visit of up to six months.

(Contact us for further details if you intend to come to the UK for an engagement on +44(0)207 033 9527 or enquiries@vanessaganguin.com.)

An ETA will be necessary for transiting a British airport if you will pass through border control.

It should be clarified that the ETA will only provide you permission to travel to the UK, and it is not equivalent to a visa. While a visa may confer leave to enter, even a visa cannot guarantee entry.  That decision rests with the immigration officer at the airport and they can cancel a visa or refuse permission if they think appropriate (e.g. because the holder’s circumstances/purpose have changed). An ETA only applies to non-visa nationals. Visa nationals will always require a valid visa if they wish to enter the UK.

Which nationals will need an ETA to visit the UK, and when?

The ETA application process is now open for the following nationals who do not require a visa and intend to travel to the UK:

Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Austria
The Bahamas
Bahrain
Barbados
Belgium
Belize
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Israel
Japan
Kiribati
Kuwait
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao Special Administrative Region
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Federated States of Micronesia
Monaco
Nauru
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Norway
Oman
Palau
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Samoa
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Seychelles
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Korea
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Sweden
Switzerland
Tonga
Tuvalu
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uruguay
Vatican City

(NB: the lists of visa nationals and non-visa nationals change periodically, so check the UK government’s Who should apply for an ETA and  Check if you need a visa sites before travel to be certain.)

Who does not need an ETA to travel to the UK?

You do not require an ETA if:

• you are a British or Irish citizen (if you are a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship, be sure to use your valid British or Irish passport or a valid passport containing a certificate of entitlement);
• you have a visa;
• you have permission to live, work or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled status or right of abode);
• you are transiting through a UK airport and you will not pass through border control (check with your airline if you are not sure);
• you are travelling with a British overseas territories citizen passport
• you are travelling with a British National (Overseas) passport
• you live in Ireland and you are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
• you are a child travelling on the France-UK school trip travel information form
• you are exempt from immigration control

How to apply for the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation

Applicants are encouraged to apply for the ETA through the UK ETA app, but those who are unable to for any reason (e.g., technical issues) can also fill out an online form. Both can be found here.

There are simple questions to fill in, such as name, date of birth, nationality, previous immigration history and criminal convictions.

You will need to provide biometric information, have a valid passport (biometric chipped or not) and answer a short set of questions to assess suitability for travel to the UK.

The ETA costs £10 (£16 after 9 April 2025) to apply and is non-refundable. The Home Office has prided itself on the ETA being a cost-competitive travel scheme compared to other international schemes such as the USA’s ESTA, which functions similarly to the ETA, but with an application fee of $21 (approximately £17). However, the Home Office also prefaces that as with all visa fees, the ETA application fee is subject to review.

The Home Office have stated that applicants should receive a decision within three working days, but it may occasionally take longer, presumably in more complex circumstances.

The ETA guidance suggests applicants may want to apply for a Standard Visitor visa instead of an ETA if they have a criminal record or were previously refused entry into the UK.

The current ETA rules list reasons applicants must be refused an ETA, such as if they have had previously breached immigration laws (e.g. overstaying, using deception in relation to an immigration application), false representations, and criminality to name a few. See below for what to do if refused.

Once granted, the ETA will be valid for two years from the date of grant or until the passport used in the application expires, whichever is sooner. While the rules state that a person holding a valid ETA can make multiple journeys of up to six months as a visitor, it should be noted that travellers will still likely be subject to the genuine visitor requirement as set out in Appendix V. This means that while ETA holders can be granted permission to stay for up to six months at a time within the two-year period, you should not be living in the UK for extended periods through frequent and successive visits as the Home Office may not be convinced such individuals are genuine visitors. Border force may consider the typical or expected duration of proposed activities and the cumulative amount of time spent in the UK before granting entry.

What should I do if my ETA is refused?

If you are refused, you will be required to apply for a visa such as a Visitor visa or a Creative Worker visa if you want to come to the UK. As there is no language currently to reflect a cool-down period of sorts for ETA applications, it is being interpreted that if you are refused an ETA once, you will never be able to apply for the ETA again. For security purposes, there may be little leeway on repeat ETA applications following refusals (no matter how much time has transpired between the applications), much like how the US equivalent of the ESTA currently functions.

For assistance with visit visas or any immigration advice, please feel free to contact our friendly team of immigration experts. You can call us on +44(0) 207 033 9527 or email us to discuss any aspects of UK immigration at enquiries@vanessaganguin.com