The 2025 eTA wave: the countries that just added electronic authorisation
2025 is the year of the eTA (electronic travel authorisation). Instead of issuing traditional visas or granting full exemption, a growing number of countries are choosing a middle path: visitors can still enter easily, but must register and be approved online before flying. These are the notable recent changes:
- Anh (UK ETA) — extended to visa-exempt visitors, including EU citizens, during 2025.
- Seychelles — requires a Travel Authorisation for all visitors; this is an electronic authorisation, not a visa.
- Mozambique — has required an ETA since April 2025 for citizens of countries that were previously visa-free.
- Saint Kitts & Nevis — introduced an ETA from May 2025, the first CARICOM state to do so.
- Kenya — has replaced visas with an electronic ETA for almost all nationalities.
- Mexico (SAE) — electronic authorisation for citizens of Turkey, Russia and Ukraine.
- Pakistan — operates an eTA for around 50 nationalities (leading to visa on arrival).
One major system is still pending: ETIAS is expected by the European Union to become operational in Q4/2026 and is not yet accepting applications — once it starts, tens of millions of visa-exempt visitors to Europe will also need electronic authorisation in advance.
Does an eTA make a passport weaker?
No. At Prosperous Intelligence, eTAs count towards the strength score alongside visa-free and visa-on-arrival access — because an eTA is not a consular visa application and approval rates are very high. We simply do không tính e-Visa (xem vì sao).
What matters for travellers: when a destination switches to an eTA, you need to apply earlier, usually a few hours to a few days before the flight. See where your passport needs an eTA on the Passport Index, and read more: eTA là gì.
Official sources
Last checked: 29 Aug 2026
