Starting 25 February next year, the United Kingdom (UK) will fully enforce its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirement for all travellers from visa-free countries.
The system has been in a soft-launch phase since January this year, but officials held back strict checks to give airports, airlines and travellers time to adapt.
Once active, the rule will apply not only to visitors entering the UK but also to passengers connecting through British airports if their transfer requires going through passport control. Airlines will be responsible for confirming that anyone from a visa-free country has an approved ETA before boarding.
UK makes ETA mandatory
According to Travel News, the ETA system forms part of the UK’s move toward a fully digital border, similar to the US ESTA, Canada’s eTA and the EU’s upcoming ETIAS system.
It is intended to strengthen pre-arrival screening and streamline processing at UK ports of entry.
Rollout has been gradual. Visitors from Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Jordan were the first nationalities required to use the ETA in 2023, with more visa-exempt countries added in stages ahead of next year’s full enforcement.
What this means for South African travellers
South African passport holders are not visa-free visitors to the UK, which means the ETA requirement does not replace or remove the need for a UK visa.
South Africans will continue to apply for standard visitor visas as usual.
However, the ETA may still affect some South Africans, like Dual passport holders. South Africans who also hold a passport from a visa-free country (for example, an EU state) will need an ETA when travelling on that passport.
