by Kevon Browne
Premier Brantley Highlights Changes
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN)—On March 31, 2025, the Premier of Nevis, Hon. Mark Brantley, addressed citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis regarding upcoming changes to the United Kingdom’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system.
The Premier emphasised that this authorisation is not a visa, clarifying that “the people of St. Kitts and Nevis can still travel to the United Kingdom without a visa.”
Understanding the ETA
Premier Brantley explained the nature of the ETA.
“What this is, which is now being made applicable to all travellers entering the UK, they’re doing it in phases, is that you are required to go online and to submit your information and to get this ETA, Electronic Travel Authorisation.”
He further advised that “once approved, it is valid for two years until the expiration date of your passport, whichever comes sooner. Please note that the ETA is linked to the passport. So once you have a new passport, you must apply for a new ETA.”
Fee Hike Effective April 9, 2025
The key announcement centered around an increase in the ETA fee.
Premier Brantley stated, “Now, the reason I’m mentioning this now is that the UK government has announced that the cost for the ETA will increase from £10 to £16, effective 9th April 2025. So if you’re going to the UK, the 9th of April 2025 or thereafter, you have to apply for your ETA and the cost will now be £16, not £10. So they’ve increased it significantly. That looks like [a] 60% increase from £10 to £16.”
Application Requirements and Processing Time
The Premier outlined the necessary steps for the application.
“Each traveller must apply for an ETA before visiting the United Kingdom as the approval process takes about three working days, but it may be shorter or longer. Before you apply, you will need your passport, access to an email and a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay to process the payment. You will also need to upload or take photos of the passport in the face of the person applying.”
Permitted Activities Under ETA
Brantley detailed the permitted activities for those travelling under the ETA.
“Please note that the ETA can only be used for persons who are travelling to the UK for up to six months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study, travelling to the UK for up to three months under creative worker visa concession, travelling to the UK for permitted paid engagement, transiting through the UK, including if you’re not going through UK border control.”
Important Note for Transit Passengers
A crucial point was made regarding transit passengers.
Premier Brantley emphasised, “Now, that last one is very important because it is saying that if you’re travelling, transiting through the UK, you still need to apply for the ETA. So please note that if you’re not staying in the UK, you’re going on to Taiwan, you’re going on to Germany, you’re going on wherever, but you’re travelling through the UK, they’re saying you still have to apply for the ETA.”
Seeking Assistance
Premier Brantley concluded by urging citizens to seek guidance from official sources.
“So I ask our people to pay attention to that and you can go to the UK government website www.gov.uk and you will get some assistance there in terms of how to apply,” explained the Premier of Nevis, Hon. Mark Brantley.
