” Travellers from Europe are now required to have a digital Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) permit. UK officials stated that this system is being implemented to improve security and streamline the entry process. There will be a buffer period that may last several months. The permit can be purchased online for £10 (12 euros), but the price will increase significantly to £16 starting on April 9. The ETA was previously introduced for American, Canadian, and other visa-exempt nationals visiting the UK, which left the European Union in 2020.
Phil Douglas, head of the UK’s border force, explained that this latest rollout is part of a broader plan to extend the ETA to visitors from around the world. He emphasized, “This scheme is essentially a border security measure,” and he does not anticipate that the launch will cause disruption. The ETA will expedite entry times and allow officials to review information about a traveller’s immigration history or criminal record. Douglas added,
“The quid pro quo for the individual, though, is that we are building a contactless border; if they’re cleared for entry, they’ll be able to use our new eGates and go through the border much more quickly.” He also mentioned that people would still be able to board planes and trains during the introductory period, which is expected to last several months, until around September or October. This permit allows visits of up to six months, is digitally linked to the applicant’s passport, and is valid for two years. Applications, which can be made via a smartphone app or through the government website, have been open to Europeans since the beginning of March. It applies to nationals of about 30 European countries, including all those in the European Union except Ireland. To apply, individuals must provide a photo of their passport and a facial photograph. According to the UK’s Home Office, the application process takes about 10 minutes. In most cases, a decision on the application is made within minutes, though the government recommends allowing up to three working days for processing.
The ETA will also be required for babies and children, but flight passengers merely transiting through the UK without crossing the border are exempt from this scheme, a decision made after pressure from Heathrow Airport, which feared a decline in passenger numbers connecting through Europe’s busiest airport. In 2024, nearly 84 million passengers passed through Heathrow, with a third coming from the neighboring EU.
The ETA scheme was first launched in 2023 for Qatar and later extended to five regional Gulf neighbors. In January, it was further expanded to nationals from an additional 50 countries and territories, including Argentina, South Korea, and New Zealand. According to the Home Office, nearly 1.1 million visitors had received ETAs by the end of 2024. The ETA does not apply to UK residents or anyone with an existing UK immigration status. Additionally, the ETA mirrors the ETIAS scheme for visa-exempt nationals traveling to 30 European countries, including France and Germany, although that scheme has been delayed until 2026.
