Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
In line with the UK government’s move to digitise the UK border and immigration system, the ETA scheme has been introduced for all non-visa nationals visiting the UK.
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All travellers to the UK – except British and Irish citizens – now need advance permission to travel through either an ETA or a visa. 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 hold a UK immigration status (e.g. a work visa), you will need an ETA. |
Visitors to the University will need to ensure that they hold the correct permissions to enter the UK (whether this is an ETA or a visa). Please note this also applies if you are arranging your travel via Dublin Airport/the Republic of Ireland.
If you are a non-visa national visiting the University for reasons including, but not limited to, the 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
- Visting Scholars arriving under the six-month Academic visit route
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Applying for an ETA
Eligible visitors should apply for an ETA in advance of travelling to the UK. While most applications will be processed within hours, visitors are advised to always apply for their ETA in plenty of time ahead of travel to avoid any last-minute delays.
An ETA costs £16 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, the ETA will be digitally linked to your passport.
Everyone travelling needs to obtain an ETA, including babies and children.
- Entering the UK from the Republic of Ireland
Some visitors to Northern Ireland may enter the UK through the Republic of Ireland (ROI). The UK, its Crown Dependencies and the ROI form part of the Common Travel Area (CTA) which involves some co-operation on immigration issues.
If you are entering the UK through the ROI, e.g. via Dublin Airport, it is therefore important to note that you may be refused permission to enter the ROI if you are unable to evidence that you qualify for admission to the UK. In other words, if entering the UK via Dublin Airport (for example), you must be able to evidence your UK immigration status by presenting either a visa/eVisa or an ETA to Irish immigration officers.
Non-visa nationals who are lawful residents of the ROI do not need an ETA when travelling to the UK from within the CTA, provided they hold acceptable evidence of their residence status. This exemption applies only for travel within the CTA. For travel to the UK from outside of the CTA, non-visa nationals that are lawfully resident in the ROI must obtain an ETA.