The UK government has phased in Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) as a travel requirement, and from April 2, 2025, it will be required for all Italian and foreign citizens, including minors who intend to travel to the UK.
Who is exempt from the requirement?
- Foreign nationals resident in the United Kingdom with a valid residence permit
- British and Irish citizens
- Passengers in transit who do not pass through U.K. border controls and therefore will not have their passports stamped by immigration office.
Duration and validity
The ETA allows multiple trips to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time, over a two-year period or until the passport expires..
Possible outcomes of the request
Once the application is submitted and data uploaded the ETA can have three outcomes:
- Approved - Authorization granted, valid for two years or until the passport expires (whichever is less)
- Rejected - Application rejected due to compilation errors or inconsistencies in data; a new application can be submitted by paying the administrative fee again
- Refused - Authorization denied for serious reasons (e.g., positive answers to security questions); in this case, you will need to apply for a visa to travel to the UK