The United Kingdom has introduced new travel requirements for Nigerian citizens planning to visit the UK, starting from November 15, 2023. With the exception of British and Irish citizens, all individuals, including children, entering or transiting through the UK will now be required to obtain prior permission. This means that all prospective UK travelers from Nigeria must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
These new travel permits are mandatory for individuals who were previously eligible to visit the UK without a visa and are not legally resident in the UK. The ETA requirement applies to various categories of travelers, including those on visits lasting less than six months, business travelers, tourists, and those visiting family and friends.
To obtain an ETA, applicants must submit an online application before making any travel arrangements to the UK. Once approved, the ETA will be valid for multiple journeys over a period of two years or until the expiration of the applicant’s passport, whichever comes first.
The UK Home Office emphasizes that travelers with valid visas may be denied boarding without a valid ETA, as the ETA is digitally linked to the traveler’s passport.
In a statement, the UK Home Office clarified, “The UK travel requirements are changing. Except for British and Irish citizens, everyone, including children, entering or transiting through the UK will soon require permission before they travel. This means that if you were previously eligible to visit the UK without a visa and not already legally resident in the UK, you will need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), your stay must be shorter than six months and could include tourism or visiting family and friends, transit, business, and short-term study. You do not need to show a paper copy, but it may be helpful to prove the confirmation email for your own records. While an ETA grants you permission to travel to the UK, it does not grant you entry. So, you would still need to go through passport control at the border to enter the UK. Make sure you show the same passport you used to apply for your ETA and that your passport is valid for the whole of your stay.”
