Digital advancement at forefront of UK immigration law developments

This is also true for other countries across the globe, with jurisdictions worldwide exploring the growing trend of digitalisation in immigration law. 

Read more on the growing trends of digitalisation in immigration law:

• Republic of Ireland
• EU
• Singapore
• Middle East

There are a number of measures being implemented by the UK in order to move immigration measures into the digital age, including work towards making all immigration status digital by the end of 2024 and an expansion to the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme.

Current holders of Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) can register to transition to new eVisa status. Holders must do this before 1 January 2025. Failure to do this may cause difficulty with international travel, as well as difficulty proving right to work or rent in the UK. While failure to register under the new scheme will not result in the expiration of leave, best practice will be to register for the eVisa scheme ahead of time, and to keep accounts updated – for example in the event of a change of passport.

The expansion of the ETA scheme will bring with it similarities to the US ESTA and the upcoming EU ETIAS.

Those currently eligible for visa-free visits will in future need to register online before travelling and pay a small fee. This digital registration will replace passport stamping, aiming to quickly identify potential risks while streamlining the arrival process for others.

Currently, the UK ETA scheme is operational for a few countries in the Middle East. However, in January 2025, the scheme will become mandatory for a further 49 countries including the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In April 2025, the scheme will expand further, capturing all those currently visiting visa-free from Europe.

ETA will have a significant impact on the number of pre-travel authorisation requests submitted to the UK each year. ETAs will be valid for two years, so visitors should be mindful of their ETA’s duration and extend it when necessary.