Useful Information

ETA

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.

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.

Walking is a great option if you’re wanting to see the sights of Belfast City Centre. Book a walking tour with an experienced local guide, or explore using our map.

Translink is Northern Ireland’s public transport provider. Metro and Glider services operates in the Belfast area, with Ulsterbus and Goldline bus services connecting the rest of Northern Ireland.

Glider services operate with a modern eco-hybrid fleet. Catering for more passengers than conventional buses, passengers also enjoy a new ticketing system which speeds up getting on and off the vehicle.

Translink operates Northern Ireland Railways which connects Belfast to various cities and towns in Northern Ireland. Within Belfast, the main train stations are Great Victoria Street Station and Lanyon Station (previously known as Belfast Central Station).

From Dublin

The Enterprise Train service connects Dublin and Belfast. It is jointly operated by Translink and Irish Rail.

Value Cabs provides a professional taxi service, executive vehicles and sightseeing tours.

Wheelchair accessible vehicles and seven seater vehicles are available on request.

A debit and credit card payment facility is available in every vehicle. This service is particularly useful to business travellers, tourists, students, shoppers and anyone who is not carrying cash. Please ask your driver for details.

Bikes are available for public hire, with over 30 docking stations located across Belfast City Centre. You can register as a casual user or annual subscriber from £5 and the first 30 minutes of each trip is free.

George Best Belfast City Airport

Belfast City Airport is just three miles from Belfast City Centre. Aer Lingus, British Airways, KLM and Eastern Airways all fly to and from Belfast City Airport. The Translink Airport Express 600 bus service runs between the airport and Belfast city centre.

Belfast International Airport

Belfast International Airport is a 30 minute drive from Belfast City Centre. EasyJet, Ryanair, Jet2 and Wizz all fly to and from Belfast International Airport. The Translink Airport Express 300 bus service runs between the airport and Belfast city centre.

From Scotland, England, Republic of Ireland and Isle of Man

Belfast is easily accessed by sea, with crossings from both Scotland and England. Travel by superfast ferries with journey times from just one hour.

• Stena Line (travelling from Liverpool and Cairnryan)
• P&O Irish Sea (travelling from Cairnryan)
• Carlingford Lough Ferry (travelling from Republic of Ireland)
• Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (travelling from Isle of Man).

From Dublin and Republic of Ireland
Irish Rail operates services from towns and cities across the Republic of Ireland to Dublin’s Connolly Station, where you can then catch a connecting train to Belfast.

The Enterprise Train service (provided jointly by Translink and Irish Rail), from Dublin’s Connolly Station to Lanyon Station (previously known as Belfast Central Station), runs eight times daily (five times on Sundays) and takes two hours 15 minutes. Book in advance at irishrail.ie for the best value fares.

From Dublin and Republic of Ireland
From Dublin, the X1 bus service (provided jointly by Translink and Bus Eireann) operates from Dublin Busáras in the city centre and Dublin Airport to Belfast, with 21 departures every day.

The journey time from Dublin to Belfast is approximately two hours.

For more information on routes and fares, visit buseireann.ie.