Nationals of about fifty countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the United Kingdom from Wednesday.
The document costs £10 (€12) and is valid for two years. It applies to travellers who do not require a visa to enter the UK. Introduced in November 2023 for Qatari citizens, the ETA system aims to enhance border security.
In early 2024, the requirement was expanded to include citizens from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. From 2 April, nationals of around thirty European countries, including all EU countries except Ireland, will also need this travel permit.
They can start the application process from 5 March using the UK ETA app or online. The authorisation is linked digitally to the passport and is also needed for children and infants.
Residents of the UK are exempt from this requirement. The British government is implementing this measure as part of its efforts to digitise its border management system. The Home Office claims it will ensure “more robust security checks.”
The United States and Australia have already introduced similar systems.
The European Union plans to implement its own version, ETIAS, by mid-2025. ETIAS will be valid for three years and cost €7, affecting about sixty countries, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, and the UK.
