The UK started rolling out ETA requirements for all nationals who can enter visa-free in 2024, beginning with the Gulf Nationals and then expanding to all non-Europeans on January 8, 2025 (read more here).
The UK first required this ETA even for those transiting through the UK (London Heathrow and Manchester) but soon withdrew this requirement for an undisclosed time. European nationals can now apply for the UK ETA that they require to enter the UK from April 2, 2025.
You can access UK’s page for the ETA here.
I decided to try applying for an ETA today, as I will likely enter or transit through the UK in early April (I often enter even during transit due to security check-up and lounge access—First Wing is easier than going through transit security).
The UK ETA APP
The UK ETA Website Application
Both down!
Nationals That Require UK ETA Now:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belize
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Canada
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (including British national overseas)
- Israel
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Macao Special Administrative Region
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Oman
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Qatar
- Samoa
- Saudi Arabia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Taiwan (if you have a passport issued by Taiwan that includes in it the number of the identification card issued by the competent authority in Taiwan)
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- United Arab Emirates
- United States
- Uruguay
Nationals that Require UK ETA from April 2:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- San Marino
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Vatican City
Conclusion
There appear to be fake UK ETA apps and probably websites that can complete these applications for an extra fee.
You should go to the UK government’s website and apply from there or use the official app once it works again.
