Travellers will have to get to grips with a series of rule changes before they can touch down and enter certain countries. Here's a breakdown of some of the changes that could affect your travel in 2025:
UK - ETA
January has already ushered in major changes for guests eyeing the UK for travel opportunities.
This is due to the launch of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme.
Visitors from the US, Canada and Australia will now have to fill in an online form allowing them to travel in the UK. The system will kick in for EU citizens from April 2025.
ETA, which is similar to the US ESTA, acts as a visa waiver. Travellers requiring visas to enter the UK will still require a visa and won't have to apply for an ETA.
Countries from which citizens will have to apply for an ETA ahead of UK travel include Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, US and Uruguay.
What to know: Travellers need to apply for an ETA ahead of their journey. Approval is usually within 72 hours of application. An ETA lasts six months, is valid for two years, and covers multiple entries to the UK during that period.
You'll need a valid passport, an email address to register with and a valid debit or credit card to pay any fees to apply. The site is here. An ETA costs £10 per person, and the fee applies to all travellers, including babies and children.
EU – ETIA
Summer 2025 will see a reciprocal launch of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). This affects British citizens who will need to apply for ETIAS before visiting 30 participating countries across Europe.
ETIAS is not a visa. However, travellers will have to pay a fee of around €7. It will remain valid for three years, allowing multiple entries during the period. No launch date has been officially announced, but it is due this year.
Visitors will have to access the ETIAS website, fill in a form and pay the required fee. Most approvals are expected to be within minutes and applicants will receive a confirmation email.
Middle East
New rules are kicking in for a host of countries across the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, for example, has announced further easing of travel regulations, which means travellers from 68 countries can now apply online for a tourist e-visa or obtain a visa-on-arrival.
The UAE is offering longer stays and greater flexibility for extensions. These will undoubtedly help Dubai to meet its goals of attracting 25 million annual visitors and host 400 global events.
Thailand
Since January 2025, Thailand has expanded its evisa to more countries worldwide. With the digitization of the scheme, travellers will no longer have to worry about paper applications and experience a smoother process.
Cambodia
One of the standout visitor destinations of south-east Asia, Cambodia reduced evisa costs to $30 from $36 from January.
Conclusion
With changes afoot across the globe, travellers will need to plan ahead more than ever to ensure their passports are up to date and visas are valid. Reports have suggested people are being turned away from airports because of incorrect documentation. So, don’t be the one left standing as your flight departs.
Andy Probert is an independent PR writer and journalist who writes about travel experiences, airlines, airports, new tech and business. His work has appeared on the BBC, in The Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph, The Sun, Daily Mirror, as well as many newspapers/magazines globally.
