Must French residency permit holders get a traveller’s visa to go through UK airport?
Digital border security systems in the UK will widen in 2025
UK border rules are changing for many people in 2025
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Reader Question: I am a US citizen with a French long-term carte de Séjour, and in 2025 will be travelling to the US via London Heathrow twice. One time I will stay overnight then fly the next day – do I need the new electronic travel visa?
You are talking about the UK’s electronic travel authorisation (ETA), a new border security system for travellers to the UK with visa-free access.
This is not strictly-speaking a ‘visa’ though some people may refer to it as such informally. It is comparable to the US Esta application, or the EU’s forthcoming Etias and will involve a simple online application.
It already applies for citizens from some Middle Eastern nations, but will come into force more widely in 2025; on January 8 for non-Europeans such as Americans, Australians, and Canadians, and April 2 for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens.
Read more: UK’s new ETA travel fee permit: rules for French and other non-British visitors
Application for the ETA is based on your country of citizenship, and not where you have residency rights.
As an American citizen, if your visits are scheduled after January 8, 2025, you will need to apply for an ETA.
You should only need to apply once, as your ETA lasts for two years or until your passport expires and you obtain a new one.
What about travellers transiting through airports?
Travellers who are merely transiting through the UK will also need an ETA, even if not required to leave the airport and go through UK Border Security before boarding their next flight.
This includes travellers who would otherwise be exempt from a transit visa (such as Americans).
Applications for a transit visa are again based on citizenship – American, Australian, and Canadian citizens do not need a transit visa, but Albanian, Indian, Nigerian, and Pakistani citizens do.
This is again regardless of whether a person holds French residency status.
You can use the UK government’s visa checker to see when you require a visa to enter or transit through the UK.
Read more: Residency rights and border changes: What's new in France in 2025
