Applications are now open for Guyanese and other nationals, who currently enjoy visa-free travel to the United Kingdom, to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) which will be required for entry into the UK from January 2025.
This new requirement applies to most visa-exempt travellers and is part of the UK’s efforts to enhance border security and improve the travel experience.
In a statement on Sunday, the British High Commission in Guyana reminded that “Starting January 8, 2025, it will be mandatory for all Guyanese nationals travelling to the UK without a visa to have an ETA to be granted entry into r an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)…” 
Persons can apply for this travel authorisation via the UK ETA app – available on the Apple Store and Google Play Store – or through the official GOV.UK website. The High Commission said the process is simple, takes less than 15 minutes, and costs £10.
“Guyanese travellers are encouraged to apply early to avoid delays,” the High Commission urged.
Applicants can expect decisions within three working days, and app users may receive quicker responses. Once approved, the ETA will allow multiple trips to the UK for up to six months per visit, lasting either two years or until the passport linked to the application expires – whichever comes first.
“Travellers arriving in the UK on 8 January 2025 must secure ETA approval beforehand, so those flying late on 7 January 2025 should ensure their ETA is in place. If an application is refused, travellers must apply for a UK visa,” the British office in Georgetown noted.
The ETA requirement does not apply to British or Irish passport holders, or those travelling to the Turks and Caicos Islands or other British Overseas Territories.
The introduction of the ETA system, which was rolled out last year, aligns with the UK’s commitment to making travel safer and more efficient, mirroring similar systems used in the US and Australia.
ETA applications were officially opened on November 27, 2024.
Only recently, British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller, explained that this is not a reintroduction of visas for Guyanese travellers but a new requirement for countries all around the world, and therefore, should not be a deterrent to Guyanese travellers.
“It’s very quick and easy and I want to stress that it’s not a reintroduction of visas, and it’s something that is not being targeted to Guyana. This is something we’re doing across the whole world for visa-free countries. It’s part of our modernisation and digitising our immigration service,” she told the Guyana Times.
According to the British diplomat, “It’s simple, quick and easy. People shouldn’t feel deterred by it whatsoever. It’s something that’s very straightforward and it’s something that many countries across the world are introducing… So, it shouldn’t be a deterrent. But people have got to remember to do it. It’s really important. If you’re gonna travel, when you get to the airport, they’ll be checking to see if you have that ETA, if you do not, you’ll not be able to travel. So, it’s important but it shouldn’t be a deterrent because it’s quick and easy to do.”
In November 2022, the UK Government lifted the visa requirement for Guyanese passport holders and according to High Commissioner Miller, since then, there has been an increase in flights between the two countries.
“We are seeing an increase in travel between Guyana and the UK, and the UK into Guyana. I don’t have precise statistics, but from my impression from talking to businesses, from talking to students, from talking to many people, there is an increase in transfer between the two countries. Whether it be for business, whether it be for training courses or whether it be for holidays, people are enjoying the beautiful countryside of the UK and all the cultural opportunities there are across the UK and in London.
“We certainly have seen a number of British tourists coming here. In the UK, one of the things we love is eco-tourism – bird watching and fishing – and I’ve met many Brits that have been here on holiday and had the most incredible time… We are seeing an increase in numbers. So, yes [Guyana’s eco-tourism product] is being embraced in the UK,” the British envoy added.
While her office does not have access to the immigration records, the High Commissioner had noted that the fact that the visa waiver is still in place means there have been no major issues with Guyanese travellers to the UK.
