In a major shift in travel regulations, European nationals heading to the UK will now require a mandatory entry permit, known as the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). The British government asserted that the measure was intended to strengthen border security.
ETAs similar to the US ESTA system allow access to six months and are valid for two years. This is a must for all travelers, including minors and babies.
The initial price is £10 (€12), and the license fee will rise to £16 from April 9. Applications can be made through a smartphone app or a government website and approval is usually granted within minutes. However, the Ministry of the Interior recommends that travelers apply three working days in advance.
“With digital immigration systems, we are paving the way for contactless UK borders,” Immigration Minister Seema Malhotra said earlier this month. “Enlarge ETA globally, our commitment to enhancing security through technology and innovation.”
From April 2, nationals of about 30 European countries (including all EU countries outside Ireland) will be able to obtain ETA before entering the UK. This requirement comes after an earlier launch for us, Canada and other visa travelers in January.
To apply, an individual must submit a digital photo of his passport and face. The approved ETA is associated with the passport electronically, eliminating the need for physical documents.
Flying passengers passing over the airline were exempted from the scheme without crossing the British border, a decision affected by the lobbying of Heathrow, which feared the decline of transport passengers. Currently, only Heathrow and Manchester Airports can accommodate the United Kingdom’s Airside Transit.
The ETA plans to launch for the first time in 2023 for Katari nationals and then expand to five other Bay States. In January 2025, it further expanded to include travelers from around 50 countries and regions such as Argentina, South Korea and New Zealand.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, by the end of 2024, nearly 1.1 million tourists have been issued. The scheme is not applicable to UK residents or individuals who already hold UK immigration status. It also reflects the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIA), which will require visa citizens to obtain approval before traveling to 30 European countries, including France and Germany. However, the EU’s ETIAS system has been postponed until 2026.
The new UK travel policy marks a significant change in post-Brexit immigration controls, reflecting a broader global trend in digital border security measures.
