THE British High Commission has underscored that Jamaicans are not impacted by the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirement for visitors from several countries, including some Caribbean nations.

“The UK Government can confirm that Jamaican nationals are not affected by this new requirement and will continue to require a visa for entry,” the high commission said in a release on Friday.

The new ETA rule, which came into effect on January 8, applies to nationals of countries who do not currently require a visa to enter the UK.

British High Commissioner to Jamaica Judith Slater said, “The introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation is an important step in enhancing the UK’s border security and managing travel more efficiently. However, it is important to note that the new ETA policy applies only to nationals of visa-exempt countries. Jamaicans will continue to require a visa for travel to the UK. We encourage all Jamaican nationals to refer to the official UK Government website at www.gov.uk for full details on visa application procedures.”

Slater said the British High Commission in Jamaica remains committed to fostering open communication and providing timely, accurate information on UK immigration policies and more.

Jamaicans are being encouraged to visit the official UK Government website or contact the British High Commission in Jamaica for more information.

The ETA is a new digital registration scheme for travellers who do not need a visa to enter the UK.

While before they could hop on a plane and present themselves at passport control on landing, now, travellers will need to get pre-travel authorisation to fly to the UK.

The scheme debuted to Gulf Cooperation Council nationals in 2024 and was rolled out to other non-European travellers from 48 countries this year — including the six million travellers from the US, Canada, and Australia who enter the UK each year.

Travellers from these countries will now need an ETA to enter the UK with the only exception being EU citizens, who will need an ETA to enter the UK from April 2, 2025.

Citizens of these countries who are already resident in the UK do not need an ETA.

The scheme is for “short” visits to the UK of less than six months for tourism and business. There are a few other categories of ETA, including for short-term study and permitted paid engagements.