Individuals undertaking an element of research at PhD in certain sensitive subjects must obtain an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) prior to commencing their visit.
Failure to obtain a required ATAS certificate (when required) will prevent the visit from commencing. Applying in good time and before travelling to the UK is strongly recommended.
From April 2025 the Government aims to have fully implemented the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), giving nationals who can visit the UK without applying for a visa in advance (‘non visa nationals’) a digital permission to travel to the UK.
ETA is currently required for nationals from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
On 27 November 2024 the ETA process opened for 49 countries (non-European nationals), to permit travel to the UK on or after 8 January 2025.
On 5 March 2025 the remaining 34 countries (mostly European nationals) will be able to apply to permit travel to the UK on or after 2 April 2025.
