European Travel Authorisation applications open ahead of 2 April change

Thursday, 6 March 2025 at 08:19

European passport holders can now apply for Electronic Travel Authorisation, needed for travel to the Channel Islands through the UK from 2 April.

The £10 pass - called an ETA - will be needed before arriving at the UK border.

It permits multiple visits to the Common Travel Area (CTA) for stays of up to six months at a time over two years, or while the passport remains valid.

Everyone travelling under a European passport will need to get an ETA, including babies and children.

Immigration officials say a decision is usually reached within three days; though most people will get a much quicker decision.

The ETA is linked to your passport and is issued in advance.

Travellers are being assured it will not lead to delays at the border.

People travelling directly to the islands will not need an ETA until at least autumn 2025 - meaning the requirement will not yet affect French daytrippers this summer.

A scheme introduced in Jersey and Guernsey in 2023 to allow French nationals to visit for the day with just their national ID card was extended to September 2025 to boost tourism following a decline post-Brexit.

While politicians have previously said the ETA will make a further extension of that arrangement 'problematic', they have said it will increase the security of the CTA and the islands' borders.

Applying for an ETA can be done in the following ways: