Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETA's)
Who will need to apply for an ETA?
Citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council countries—which include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—are already required to obtain an ETA prior to travel to the UK.
Eligible non-Europeans (including US, Canadian, and Australian citizens) are required to get ETAs starting on January 8, 2025. Meanwhile, Europeans will need an ETA to travel to the UK starting on April 2, 2025, when the rules go fully into effect.
Travelers are advised to apply for an ETA at least a few days before their journey. Approval should be granted within a few hours of applying but can take up to 72 hours to process.
After your ETA has been approved, visitors will be granted permission to stay in the UK for up to six months, whether for business or tourism reasons.
The ETA is valid for two years or until your passport expires (whichever comes first)—meaning there's no need to apply for a new one every time you visit within the valid time period.
The UK ETA will cost 10 pounds (approximately $13).
You'll need to provide a valid passport, a recent digital headshot that follows the UK's passport photo requirements, an email address, details of your travel plans, as well as a valid debit or credit card to pay the application fees.
Visas & Letters of Invitation
Entry Visas
Please consult the gov.uk website to establish whether you need to obtain a visa to enter the UK or contact the British Embassy in your home country to receive guidance on the application process and necessary documents. To attend and/or present at the Symposium, a Standard Visitor Visa should suffice.
Please note that if you are a US, Australian, or Canadian citizen, will be required to apply for permission to enter the UK through a new scheme known as Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) starting January 8, 2025. This is NOT the same as a Visa. Comprehensive information about ETA's are below.
Make sure you allow enough time for the application. You can find out how long it takes to process a visa in your home country on the website.
As part of the visa application process, you may be required to submit a Letter of Invitation from the Oxford Symposia Coordinator.
Further Visa & Visa Delay Information
For inquiries about your visa status, please contact the British immigration authorities or the British Embassy in your home country.
Should your visa application be declined, it's important to understand that Oxford Symposia cannot influence the decision made by the British immigration authorities. Furthermore, Oxford Symposia will not participate in discussions or correspondences with the British immigration authorities or the British Embassy on behalf of the applicant.*
Additionally, please be aware that if you register late and subsequently apply for a visa late, resulting in a delay or rejection of your visa, you may not be eligible for a refund if the refund deadline has passed. By registering late and delaying your visa application, you acknowledge the potential risk of not receiving a refund.
The refund deadline is set two weeks before the final registration deadline. We do not assume responsibility for communicating the potential ineligibility for a refund, and you are expected to assume full responsibility in such circumstances.
*Oxford Symposia is not authorised to assist with the visa process beyond providing a Letter of Invitation.
Letters of Invitation
A Letter of Invitation is a formal document acknowledging the payment of registration fees and inviting the recipient to attend and participate in the upcoming Symposium. Essentially, it serves as an official justification for the individual's presence in the UK.
Your university may request this document for administrative purposes, and if you are from a country without a visa exemption agreement with the UK, it is likely to be a necessary component of the visa application process.
To access the letter, you MUST pay the registration fee and then fill out the form below.
The information you provide in the Letter of Invitation Request Form will be used in your letter, so please ensure its accuracy.
Once you have completed the steps above our Letter of Invitation will be sent to you by email as a PDF attachment in 1-4 business days.
.jpeg)