New entry requirement for Hungarians traveling to the UK: ETA launches in 2025

Starting next spring, travellers from the European Union, including Hungarians, will be required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the United Kingdom without a visa. The UK Home Office announced that this new regulation will be implemented on 2 April 2025, affecting all EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals who previously could travel visa-free.

Application details and costs

The ETA is an online document that visitors can apply for beginning 5 March 2025, and will cost GBP 10. This authorisation will be valid for two years or until the applicant’s passport expires, allowing unlimited entries into the UK for stays of up to six months at a time, Portfolio reported.

Enhanced security measures

The Home Office explained that the ETA would be digitally linked to travellers’ passports, enabling enhanced security checks before their journey, which aims to prevent abuse of the UK’s immigration system. The British government had previously piloted the ETA system for travellers from Qatar and has expanded it to include citizens from other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The ETA will also apply to non-visa nationals from countries outside Europe starting 8 January 2025, Travelo wrote.

Application process

Travellers will need to fill out an online application, which will be reviewed before approval. Similar procedures are already standard practice in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. This requirement extends to all visa-exempt nationals travelling to the UK, whether arriving by air, train, or ferry.

Exemptions for certain groups

Notably, EU citizens who have settled in the UK before the end of 2020 and hold indefinite leave to remain (EU Settled Status) are exempt from this requirement, as are Irish citizens.