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Home Office Letter: Crew Requirements in the General Aviation Sector – February 2025 |
You may have received a recent communication regarding the implementation of Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs). This was intended for carriers in the scheduled aviation industry and so may have caused a degree of confusion for GA carriers and operators.
This communication is to clarify and confirm the following points in case of any such confusion.
British and Irish citizens do not need to apply for any additional permission to travel to the UK and should continue to travel using their valid British or Irish passports.
Crew employed or engaged to bring aircraft, passengers, or cargo to the UK and who are operating into and out of the UK as crew do not require an ETA as they are exempt from the requirement to obtain leave to enter. This only applies where crew members are departing from the UK within 7 days.
Crew members are defined as ’all people who are employed in the working or service of an aircraft, including the captain’. This does not include ground crew or security guards.
Non-visa nationals intending to visit the UK and who are not employed or engaged to bring aircraft, passengers, or cargo to the UK will require an ETA.
Visa nationals will continue to require a visit visa.
More information about ETAs, including which nationalities currently require an ETA, can be found here: Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) – GOV.UK.
You can find out if you require an ETA or visa here: Check if you need a UK visa – GOV.UK.
I hope this helps to clarify the position with respect to General Aviation and permission to travel requirements.
If you have any queries, please contact our team:
Kind regards,
Carrier Integration Team
Future Border & Immigration System (FBIS) Programme