From 2 April 2025 Swiss citizens who do not need a visa for short stays need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to travel to the United Kingdom. The ETA permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires, whichever is sooner.
From 9 April 2025 an ETA costs £16.
Swiss citizens do not need an ETA if they
- have a UK visa;
- have permission to live, work or study in the United Kingdom (including settled or pre-settled status or right of abode);
- transit through a UK airport and do not pass through border control (check with airline if not sure);
- are a British or Irish citizens;
- are a British Overseas Territories Citizen (BOTC) and travel with their BOTC passport;
- live in Ireland and are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man;
- are exempt from immigration control such as diplomats and consuls based in the UK, Heads of State, government ministers etc.;
- are a child travelling on the France-UK school trip travel information form.
Dual citizens: Please note that dual citizens with British or Irish citizenship, cannot get an ETA. When they travel to the UK they’ll need to prove their citizenship using a valid British or Irish passport, or another valid passport containing a certificate of entitlement.
The official ETA website from the UK government: www.gov.uk/eta
