Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) - Business Events Belfast And Northern Ireland

By April 2025, all visitors who do not need a visa, except British and Irish citizens, will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) – a digital permission to travel to the UK
If you’re travelling to Northern Ireland for the first time, we’re on hand to answer all your questions on who is eligible and how to apply for the new ETA scheme.

What is an Electric Travel Authorisation?
The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a new requirement that grants permission to travel to the UK with the exception of British and Irish citizens. Everyone including children who enters or transits through the UK must apply. To help you plan your future trip to Northern Ireland, watch the UK Government’s video overview of the scheme and who will need one.

ETA Requirements

What you need to know:

An ETA must be applied for online in advance of travel to Northern Ireland.
Timings –

- Eligible non-Europeans can apply in advance from November 27^th 2024 ,and will need an ETA to travel from January 8^th, 2025.
- Eligible Europeans can apply from March 5^th, 2025 and will need an ETA from April 2^nd, 2025
- So, visitors from the United States of America will need an ETA from January 8^th, 2025.

An ETA will be linked to the traveller’s passport and will last for two years or until the traveller’s passport expires – whichever comes first.
Travellers will be able to make multiple journeys of up to 6 months within those two years.
An ETA will cost £10 (British Pounds) and each traveller including babies and children will be required to hold an ETA.
British and Irish nationals will not require an ETA to travel to Northern Ireland.
The ETA will be a requirement for entry to Northern Ireland for travellers entering directly or via the Republic of Ireland.

You’ll find more information and guidance on how to apply here.

Who will need an ETA?
You’ll need an ETA if you are:

Visiting the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or study
Visiting the UK for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession
Visiting the UK for a permitted paid engagement permitted paid engagement
Transiting through a UK airport – including if you’re not going through UK border control

Eligible non-Europeans can apply in advance from 27 November 2024 and will need an ETA to travel from 8 January 2025.
Eligible Europeans can apply from 5 March 2025 and will need an ETA to travel from 2 April 2025.

Who will not need an ETA?
You will not need an ETA if you have either:

A British or Irish passport
Permission to live, work or study in the UK
A visa to enter the UK

Check if you’re eligible for a UK visa

Is the ETA a visa to enter the UK?
No, the ETA is not a visa. All other entry requirements into the UK will remain unchanged.

When will the ETA scheme be implemented?
The ETA scheme will gradually roll out in November 2023, on a nationality basis, over the next two years. The UK Government will provide further details of which countries will be rolled out next in due course.
Get more information and regular updates from the UK Government

How do I apply for an ETA?
You can apply on the UK ETA app, or online at GOV.UK. Each traveller must get their own ETA, including children and babies, and you can apply on the behalf of others. You’ll normally find out within 3 working days on whether your application is successful.
Please note, applications may take longer if further checks are needed.

How much will an ETA cost?
An ETA will cost £10 per person.

How will I receive my ETA?
You’ll get an email confirmation if your application has been approved and your ETA will be linked electronically to the passport you applied with. You must use the same passport to travel.

When does my ETA expire?
Your ETA will last for two years. It will allow multiple journeys to the UK and will be valid for two years or until your passport expires – whichever is sooner.

What if I’m refused an ETA?
You’ll need to apply for either a:

Standard Visitor visa to visit the UK
Temporary Work – Creative Worker visa to come to the UK as a creative worker
Transit visa to transit through the UK

What if I’m arriving into Dublin, and then travelling to Belfast / Northern Ireland?
There will be no immigration controls on the Ireland-Northern Ireland land border. All individuals arriving in the UK, including those crossing the land border into Northern Ireland, continue to need to enter in line with the UK’s immigration framework, including the need to obtain an ETA once required.

For more information, download the Ireland and Northern Ireland factsheet (issued 10 September 2024)