Travelers from the United States, Canada and dozens of other countries who do not require visas to enter the United Kingdom will now need to apply for digital authorization in order to visit or transit through the country.
The electronic travel authorization, called ETA and linked to a traveler’s passport, costs 10 pounds, or around $13, and lasts two years. The requirement was introduced about a year ago for nationals of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and four other Gulf nations and will extend to more than 40 visa-exempt countries starting Jan. 8. It will eventually apply to all visa-exempt travelers wishing to visit the United Kingdom, including those from the European Union.
Travelers connecting through airports in the United Kingdom who have final destinations elsewhere will also need to apply for ETA, though this policy is currently under review.
The ETA system is part of a mission to “deliver a more streamlined, digital immigration system” that will enhance border security, according to a news release from the British Home Office.
Here’s what you need to know about ETA and the process to apply.
It’s not a visa.
The ETA is for short-term visits under six months and only for visa-exempt travelers; the full list of applicable nationalities is available online. The ETA does not replace existing visa policies, which require citizens of dozens of countries and territories to apply for and receive a visa to enter the United Kingdom.
British and Irish citizens, visa holders, and those granted permission to live, work or study in the United Kingdom do not need to apply for the ETA.
The ETA doesn’t replace the need for passports to enter the United Kingdom.
Travelers can apply online or through an app.
For travel on or after Jan. 8, applications are accepted online or through the ETA app.
All travelers, including infants and children, will need ETAs, though applications can be submitted on behalf of other travelers.
To apply, you’ll need the applicant’s passport and photo and payment. Credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted forms of payment. You’ll be asked to answer a set of security questions and to provide contact information. Details about your travel plans are not necessary.
Most decisions will be rendered within three days, according to the British government, and travelers will be notified by email.
The ETA is valid for multiple journeys over a two-year period, but if your passport expires earlier, so does your ETA. It’s linked to your passport, which means there is no physical document.
Rejected applicants can apply again.
Though ETA processing is mostly automated, a caseworker will review an application before it’s rejected or refused, said Kelly Chua, a director at the global immigration firm Fragomen.
Travelers who have their ETA applications rejected can apply again, and they will be told why their application was unsuccessful. A rejection could stem from an incomplete application, such as biometrics not being captured, Ms. Chua added.
Applicants who are not granted an ETA will need to apply for a visa. Reasons applicants could be refused include previous cancellation of a visa, having unpaid litigation costs, using false documents, and a recent criminal conviction, according to the British Home Office.
Most Europeans will be required to have an ETA as of April 2.
Applications for travelers from 34 European nations will open on March 5.
An exception exists for legal residents of Ireland. Those travelers do not need an ETA if they enter the United Kingdom from Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.
The ETA is distinct from ETIAS.
The European Union is planning to enact a similar program for visa-exempt travelers, called the European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS. That program has been repeatedly delayed, and is now expected to begin sometime in 2025.
This travel authorization, required to enter 30 European countries, will cost 7 euros, or roughly $7. This will apply to an estimated 1.4 billion people from countries including the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States who can currently travel visa-free throughout much of Europe.
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