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What is ETA?

Key Challenges

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The new UK ETA System

Starting in 2025, the UK is introducing the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, of significant importance for those travelling internationally for business. This new digital travel permit applies to visitors from visa-free countries, including European Union citizens, and impacts short-term business visits. From April 2, 2025, EU nationals will need an ETA. If your business involves frequent trips to the UK, understanding this new system is important for smooth travels.
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Here’s a breakdown of what this means for your business, and how you can stay ahead of the changes.

What is the ETA, and why does this matter?

The ETA is not a visa but a digital travel permission for short stays. It’s simple to apply for, costs £10, and remains valid for two years, allowing multiple entries for stays of up to six months per visit. The 180-day (6-month) rule refers to the maximum duration of stay per visit, not per year. For businesses, this is more than a formality. It introduces an additional administrative step for your international sales team, export managers, or directors traveling to the UK for meetings, events, or market exploration. While it’s straightforward, it’s an extra step that needs to be done in advance or avoid delays.

Key challenges and recommendations for Businesses

Prepare your trips in advance and organise your personal ETA in March 2025. ETA decisions typically take three working days but can take longer if additional checks are needed. Late applications could delay business trips. Even if employees only have a layover in the UK, they will still need an ETA, adding preparation for connecting flights. In other words if you are traveling to the US and have a stopover in London, you need to organise your ETA. Ensure employees are aware of the process and requirements, including the use of the UK ETA app for faster results.

Boost Business: your local commercial professional

With the ETA system adding new layers to international travel, having a local presence in the UK is more important than ever. Boost Business provides local commercial professionals who live in the UK, understand the UK market, speak the language, and can build relationships with key players. Our boosters represent your business, drive sales, and create local partnerships — minimising your need to travel.

Ready to explore your options?

Ready to explore your options? Let’s discuss how we can bring apply these trends into your business.

Why your business should internationalize

Expanding your business internationally in your accelerator for growth. It opens doors to new markets, expands your customer base, and strengthens your brand on a global scale. It also offers opportunities for growth and risk diversification by spreading your operations across different markets. Scale is key if you want to grow your business. With these 5 tips we will help you to move foward on the international market!

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1. Develop market and competition knowledge

Market research is essential before making international expansion a reality. Understanding the local market, consumer needs and competition ensures that you have a basic knowledge in the new market you are entering. It is also important to understand how you do business in your new market, such as culture, how to negotiate and trade behaviour. Based on this, you can determine strategies to adapt your current success formula in your current market to the new market. This preliminary research provides a basis for strategies, positioning and ultimately success in the new market.

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2. Seek local representation and business partners

Local partners and local foot on the ground are crucial to a successful internationalisation strategy. Local professionals understand the market and culture, making it easier to build relationships and translate events into marketing opportunities. Often local professionals know the local market inside out, provide access to networks that are inaccessible. In addition, a local professional who speaks the same language and presents your business ensures increased credibility, visibility and connection.

Each country has its own laws and regulations that can affect your business operations. Understanding and complying with these rules are crucial to avoid legal problems and grow your business. It is also important to think in advance about the set-up of your business expansion in the country.
Finally, it is important to keep abreast of local laws and regulations, which can change rapidly. If you want to expand from or to the Netherlands or the UK, a network like NBCC can help with this.

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3. Research business laws and regulations

Each country has its own laws and regulations that can affect your business operations. Understanding and complying with these rules are crucial to avoid legal problems and grow your business. It is also important to think in advance about the set-up of your business expansion in the country. Finally, it is important to keep abreast of local laws and regulations, which can change rapidly. If you want to expand from or to the Netherlands or the UK, a network like NBCC can help with this.

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4. Create a well-thought-out business plan

A short but powerful plan is essential for planning a successful internationalisation strategy. The plan should be short but powerful. Based on the successes and learnings of your current market, you can copy to the new international market. The plan includes market analysis, market approach, financial forecasts and operational set ups. Thanks to your knowledge, experience and expertise in your product and current market, you can quickly set clear goals, allocate resources (such as marketing, IT, financial) effectively and easy start by learning by doing.

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5. Time and focus on internationalization

Successfully internationalising your business requires time and organisational focus. Therefore, appoint team members who are responsible for leading the internationalisation process, and guiding the internationalisation process. Make sure they are given time, space and the resources they need to start, learn and therefore succeed.

The internationalisation process can be complex, exciting and challenging, but its your growth accelerator. Boost Business offers a service that helps ambitious companies find local professionals with the right skills, ambitions and passion to support their international growth. By connecting companies with local experts familiar with the market, they can more easily seize new opportunities and strengthen their brand in new territories. Contact us for more information on how we can help you internationalise your business!

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