Hong Kong & BN(O) Passport Holders Need ETA to Enter UK From January 2025

The UK government has announced that citizens of 49 nations — including HKSAR and BN(O) passport holders — will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the country, starting January 8, 2025. The ETA is an electronic travel permit that 83 nationalities with visa-free entry to the UK for up to 6 months must apply for before they visit England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. ETA applications for these 49 countries and territories open on November 27, 2024.

The ETA initiative, which the UK government says is part of its plan to digitise its immigration and border system, was supposed to roll out in 2024, but so far only citizens of 6 countries — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE — can apply for the document. Nationals of 34 European countries — including Germany, France, and Spain — will need ETAs from April 2, 2025 and can begin applying for them from March 5 that year. Visitors from Ireland do not need an ETA.

Each ETA will cost £10 (HK$101), will be valid for two years, and can be used for several trips into the UK during this time. Travellers can apply for the document online or on the ETA app, for which they will need their original passport, an email address, and a bank card or mobile payment services like Apply Pay and Google Pay. Applications will be approved within 3 working days. It’s worth noting that the ETA is not a visa and does not guarantee entry to the UK.

The UK’s ETA is similar to the ETIAS document that nationalities of 60 countries and territories — including Hong Kong — need to apply for to enter all Schengen countries and three other European nations from 2025. The ETIAS, which is issued to passport holders who have visa-free access for short-term visits to these countries, will be valid for three years and can be used for multiple trips.

Header image credits: DieterMeyrl

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