In a shake-up of long-standing travel rules, European nationals heading to the UK would from tomorrow need a mandatory entry permit, which the British government says would strengthen border security.
The electronic travel authorization (ETA) can be bought online in the next few days for ￡10 (US$13), but the price is to rise swiftly from April 9 to ￡16.
It is similar to the ESTA system in operation in the US and will be mandatory for all European visitors to Britain from tomorrow, following its roll-out for US, Canadian and other visa-exempt nationals in January.
Photo: EPA-EFE
“By digitizing the immigration system we are paving the way for a contactless UK border,” British Undersecretary of State for Migration and Citizenshi Migration Minister Seema Malhotra said earlier this month when the Web site was opened for the first applications.
“Expanding ETA worldwide cements our commitment to enhance security through technology and innovation,” she said.
The permit allows visits of up to six months and is valid for two years. It is required for all travelers, including minors and babies.
The application, which can be made on a smartphone app or through the government Web site, has been open to Europeans since the start of last month. From tomorrow, nationals of some 30 European countries — including all those in the EU except Ireland — will need to carry the electronic permit to enter Britain, which left the EU in 2020.
The applicant will need to provide a photo of their passport and their face. The process takes about 10 minutes, the Home Office said.
In most cases, an application decision is made within minutes. However, the government recommends allowing up to three working days for the application.
If successful, the ETA is digitally linked to the applicant’s passport.
Flight passengers transiting airside without crossing the UK border are exempt from the scheme, after pressure from Heathrow, which feared a loss of passenger footfall connecting through Europe’s busiest airport.
Only Heathrow and Manchester airports have provisions for airside transit in the UK.
Almost 84 million passengers passed through Heathrow last year — a third from the neighboring EU.
The scheme was first launched in 2023 for Qatar, before being extended to five regional Gulf neighbors. In January, it was expanded to nationals of about another 50 countries and territories, including Argentina, South Korea and New Zealand.
Almost 1.1 million visitors were issued with ETAs before the end of last year, the Home Office said.
It is not applicable to UK residents or anyone who already has a UK immigration status.
ETA mirrors the ETIAS scheme for visa-exempt nationals traveling to 30 European countries, including France and Germany, which has been delayed until next year.
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