As we reported back in September this year, Singaporeans and those with 48 other nationalities who can currently travel to the United Kingdom visa-free will soon be required to hold an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), when arriving from 8th January 2025 onwards.

Not unlike the requirement to hold a valid ESTA before traveling to the USA, maintaining a valid ETA for the UK at all times will make a lot of sense for many of our readers, and it’s now possible to apply for one that becomes effective from the first day the requirement is enforced.

Applications open for Singapore citizens

Applications for a UK ETA for Singapore citizens are now open, and every traveller including babies and infants will need to apply for one ahead of their departure if they are arriving in the UK on or after 8th January 2025, at a cost of GBP10 (~S$17) per person.

Singaporeans are not having their visa-free travel status to the UK removed as part of these changes.

The new UK ETA is merely a travel authorisation, issued to those already eligible to enter the UK visa-free, including Singapore citizens travelling for tourism visits or business trips.

Singaporeans can continue to travel to the UK visa-free for up to six months at a time, even after the ETA becomes mandatory. It’s just an added complication.

Application for an ETA is via one of the following methods:

• The UK ETA app on the Apple app store
• The UK ETA app on Google Play
• The UK government online portal

You will need to upload a photo of yourself and the passport you will use to visit the UK, and answer some questions about yourself, but you will not be asked any questions about your trip.

The following video explains the process, clearly highlighting the mobile app as the UK’s preferred method for submitting your application.

Be cautious of scam websites that charge extra fees to process an ETA application on your behalf. Some of these sites are already ranking higher than the official website on Google!

Only use the UK government application portals listed above, which charge GBP10 (~S$17).

Aside from Singaporeans, those with passports issued in Malaysia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the USA will also require an ETA from the same date.

See this full list of nationalities that require an ETA, both now and in the future.

About the UK ETA

Here are some key points to know about the UK ETA:

• Once approved, your ETA will be good for multiple visits to the UK during a two-year period, or will expire on the same date as your passport, whichever comes sooner.
• There will be no need to reapply before each trip you take to the UK, nor provide details of any trips you take to the UK, while you hold a valid ETA liked to the same passport.
• All passengers must apply and pay the fee, even babies and senior citizens.
• Once issued, the ETA is automatically linked to your passport, so you do not need to show a paper copy.
• Where you start your journey to the UK is irrelevant – only your nationality affects the requirement for an ETA.
• How you enter the UK is irrelevant – whether by air, boat or train – an ETA is required.

How long does it take?

After applying for your ETA, you’ll usually get a decision within 3 working days, but thankfully it is usually much quicker.

Readers are already sharing their experiences with us over the last couple of days, and approvals are being granted in as little as 5-10 minutes.

An ETA can be obtained at any time, even when you do not have immediate travel plans, though the two-year validity clock will start ticking as soon as it is issued. If you apply now as a Singapore citizen, it will be valid from 8th January 2025 (the first day it is needed) through to 8th January 2027.

In our opinion, it’s probably a good idea to have your ETA application in place around a week before your trip.

What about urgent trips?

If you need to travel to the UK urgently, for example due to a family emergency, don’t worry.

Although you must apply for an ETA before you depart, a process that only takes a few minutes, you can then travel to the UK while waiting for a decision, unlike some other schemes like the US ESTA which require advance approval in order for you to be able to board your flight.

If you are in this situation and one of those quick 5-10 minute approvals does not come through, you can still travel to the UK.

Exemptions

British and Irish citizens and individuals who hold a valid UK immigration permission (including some Singaporeans), like an employment visa or long-term study visa, are not required to apply for an ETA before travelling.

Nationals of most European countries do not need an ETA to travel to the UK until 2nd April 2025. Those citizens can apply from 5th March 2025 onwards.

Your ETA cannot be transferred to a new passport

One of the most important things to remember is that the UK ETA authorisation is electronically linked to the chip in your travel document, and cannot be transferred to another passport (unlike, for example, New Zealand’s NZeTA, which can be switched to a new passport).

Therefore if your passport expires within your ETA two-year validity period, a new ETA visa waiver must be obtained, once you have a new passport in hand (and yes, you must pay the fee again).

What about dual citizenship?

Dual citizenship for Singaporeans is very rare, since it is generally not permitted.

Some people do hold this status though, which usually arises if they were born abroad to Singaporean parents and also acquired the nationality of their birth country.

If you are a dual national of both Singapore and the United Kingdom or Ireland, you do not need to apply for an ETA for an arrival from 8th January 2025 onwards, provided you enter the UK using your British or Irish passport. You may also have to show this passport to check-in staff prior to departure.

Those with dual citizenship who have passports from two ETA eligible non-UK/Ireland countries (e.g. Japan and Singapore) can apply for an ETA using either passport, but they must then enter the UK with the passport they applied with.

A valid ETA does not guarantee entry into the UK

While the ETA is partly designed to ‘smooth’ your arrival, having allowed authorities to vet your suitability for entry in advance, it is important to know that approval of an ETA is not a guarantee of entry into the UK.

Your entry will still be subject to the discretion of an immigration officer at the UK border. In some cases you may be asked to show that you have sufficient funds for your trip, and a return or onward travel booking from the UK.

In reality, Singapore citizens are already ‘well trusted’, as one of 11 non-EU nationalities eligible to use the eGate entry lanes at UK airports.

That means as a Singapore citizen you’ll likely continue to be able to enter the UK without even speaking to an immigration officer at all, even after the ETA is implemented.

The UK does not have exit immigration, in common with some other countries including Canada, the USA and Ireland, so it’s just security to worry about at the airport on your way out of the country at the end of your trip – not even an eGate to contend with.

Transit passengers also need an ETA

If you are transiting the UK en-route to a non-UK or Ireland final destination, you will still need an ETA in order to be permitted to check in for your first flight, even if you remain in the transit area during your connection.

This would apply, for example, to a Singapore – London – New York routing with British Airways.

That’s definitely a big consideration if all you’ll be doing is transiting airside in the UK.

For example, a family of four flying from Singapore to France via London Heathrow on British Airways, remaining wholly within the transit area, will likely not want to be forking out GBP 40 (~S$68) just to be allowed to do so, when transits via other European and Middle East hubs do not come with this complication.

There has already been plenty of opposition to this element of the ETA policy, but for now the UK Government is standing firm.

“The ETA scheme will give us a comprehensive understanding of those travelling to the UK and the ability to prevent the travel of those who pose a threat, including those who are transiting through UK airports.

“Requiring transit passengers to obtain an ETA stops people who may use connecting flights to avoid gaining permission to travel to the UK. We are keeping this under review as we continue to roll out the scheme.”

UK Government

Europe will follow suit

Another complication for Singapore citizens will arise in the first half of 2025, when the European Union finally rolls out its much-delayed European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), a similar advance travel authorisation for those who can arrive visa-free.

You’ll be able to apply for this one via an official website or mobile app in due course, for a fee of EUR7 (~S$10).

ETIAS will allow unlimited entries to Schengen Area countries during a 3-year period, or will expire on the same date as your passport if that comes up sooner.

That means from next year it will be essential for many of our readers to ensure they have a valid UK ETA and EU ETIAS approval at all times, to allow hassle-free trips to Europe whenever they wish.

Singaporeans will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK from 8th January 2025 onwards, at a cost of around S$17 per person, including infants and children.

Applications are now open via the official UK ETA app or Government website, so you can secure an entry approval from the first day the scheme becomes effective, taking the worry out of future bookings.

For those who prefer to leave things to the last minute – thankfully your application does not need to be approved before you check in for your flight.

Nonetheless, it’s far safer to apply in advance and obtain the approval well ahead of time, and reader reports are suggesting most applications get the ‘green tick’ within only a few minutes.

Remember, even if you are merely transiting through a UK airport on an international itinerary, an ETA will still be required – this includes Singapore Airlines passengers heading to Houston via Manchester.

European Schengen Area countries will also roll out a similar scheme in the first half of 2025, so do ensure you keep on top of your approvals to ensure seamless trips to the continent in the years ahead.

(Cover Photo: Shutterstock)