Maldivians will require ETA to enter UK starting 2025

Maldivian travelers will require Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter the United Kingdom starting next year, as the UK government overhauls entry requirements for visitors.

UK’s ETA scheme requires tourists to gain permission to enter the country as part of plans to strengthen border security and fully digitize its borders by 2025.

In a statement on Thursday morning, the Maldivian Foreign Ministry said that travelers from 49 countries including the Maldives can apply for ETA staring November 27.

ETA will be required to enter the UK starting January 8, 2025.

The application fee for ETA is £10.

ETAs are valid for two years. It allows multiple entries to the UK on a valid passport for trips lasting no more than six months.

The UK began rolling out its ETA scheme in November last year. Visitors from Qatar were the first to be able to apply for the scheme.

Previously, nationals from select countries could apply for a single-use Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) instead of a visa to enter the UK. This cost £30 and was valid for up to six months.

The UK government said that the ETA scheme has now entirely replaced the EVW scheme, offering a lower cost option with multi-entry validity, according to the UK government.

The ETA will open up to all other nationalities, except Europeans, this November and be required for entry from January 8, 2025. Europeans will be required to have an ETA for travel from April 2, 2025, with applications opening up in March.

All visitors will thereafter need an ETA, except for UK and Irish passport holders.

Additional information regarding the ETA scheme is available on the UK government’s website.

The Maldivian Foreign Ministry urged all Maldivian travelers to learn about the changes and adhere to UK’s immigration laws.