From 2 April 2025, Dutch and Belgian citizens travelling to the United Kingdom must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
This new measure is intended to improve border security and applies to all passport holders wishing to visit England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. The ETA can be applied for via the official website from the UK government or via the UK ETA app.
For a fee of £10, which is around 12 euros, travellers can obtain an ETA that is valid for two years. This means that the travel authorisation can be used multiple times within this period, as long as the passport does not expire. If a new passport is required, a new ETA must also be applied for.
mandatory registration
The introduction of the ETA brings an additional administrative step for travellers from the Netherlands and other European countries. Where previously a passport was sufficient, travellers must now register online in advance to gain access to the United Kingdom. This system has been applied to non-European visitors for some time, but is now being extended to travellers from the European Union.
Although the ETA is an additional obligation, it is not a visa. Dutch citizens who stay in the United Kingdom for less than 180 days do not need to apply for a visa. For longer stays, a visa application remains necessary. The system of visa-free travel with an electronic travel authorization has been used for years by countries such as the United States and Canada. The United Kingdom is now joining this practice, with the aim of tightening border controls and better combating illegal immigration.
Travelers flying directly to Ireland do not need to apply for an ETA. The measure only applies to travel to Great Britain and Northern Ireland. However, those traveling via the United Kingdom to reach Ireland must have an ETA. This means that transferring at a British airport without the correct travel authorization could cause problems.
The British government therefore advises travellers to apply for an ETA in time and to check carefully whether their passport is still valid for long enough. The application procedure is digital and the travel authorisation is normally processed quickly.
With this new step, the United Kingdom is further separating European travellers from the free movement that was still in place before Brexit. For Dutch people, this means an extra step and a small additional cost when visiting the UK.united Kingdom.
