United Kingdom: Statement of Changes Announces Forthcoming Expansion of Nationalities Requiring ETA, New Visa Requirements for Jordanian Nationals, Among Other Changes

Updates to the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme.

• New nationalities. Further nationalities will become subject to ETA The roll-out is in two phases as follows:
  • From November 27, 2024, further eligible non-European nationals will be able to apply for an ETA; and from January 8, 2025 these nationals will need an ETA in order to travel to the United Kingdom.
  • From March 5, 2025, eligible European nationals will be able to apply for an ETA; and from April 2, 2025 these nationals will need an ETA in order to travel to the United Kingdom.

• New refusal grounds. Two additional grounds will be added for refusal of an ETA (and instead will need to apply for a visa) as follows:
  • those who have previously been refused a visit visa or permission to enter as a visitor unless granted a visa since that refusal; and
  • applicants who have previously had an ETA cancelled for other reasons.

Further details about ETAs, including the application process, validity, and exceptions can be found here.

• Additional planning and cost. Affected travellers, employees and employers will need to account for this additional procedural step and cost when making plans for travel or transit through the United Kingdom. ETA applications can potentially take up to three days to process, and there is no appeal mechanism if an application is refused (necessitating either a new ETA application or a separate visa application).
• Monitoring of ETA validity. Travelers, employees and employers will need to track the continued validity of their, or their employees’, ETAs.

Visa requirement for Jordanian nationals.

• New visa rule. Effective September 10, 2024, nationals of Jordan need a visa to enter and stay, or (in certain cases) transit through, the United Kingdom; whereas previously they could enter and stay, or transit through, the country without a visa.
• Transitional measures. In a transitional measure, Jordanian nationals who satisfy all of the following conditions will still be able to enter the United Kingdom without a visa:

• • • They obtained an ETA and booked their trip to the United Kingdom prior to 15:00 (BST) on September 10, 2024; and
    • They will be travelling to the United Kingdom prior to 15:00 (BST) October 8, 2024.
• Transit visas. Transit visas will only be necessary where the traveller will be transiting in the United Kingdom for less than 48 hours and, as part of this period, they will leave the main airport building or if they must collect their bags and check them in for onward flights.
• Removal from ETA list. Given the new visa requirement, Jordan has been removed from the ETA list. 

Jordanian nationals now face increased administrative and monetary costs travelling to the United Kingdom, including for business travel purposes. This may affect employer mobility strategy regarding whether to send Jordanian nationals to the United Kingdom for business travel.