Illustration photo, (Source: AFP)
From April 2, citizens of European countries traveling to the UK will be required to have an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). This decision was made by the British Government to strengthen border security.
ETAs can be applied for online in the coming days, for a fee of £10 (about €12 or $12.60). From April 9, the fee will increase to £16.
The ETA program operates similarly to the US ESTA system, which was introduced in January of this year for citizens of the US, Canada and other visa-exempt countries.
Immigration Minister Seema Malhotra said that by digitising the immigration system, the UK Government is aiming for a "contactless border".
The global expansion of ETA demonstrates the UK's commitment to enhancing security through technology and innovation, Ms Malhotra said.
The ETA is valid for 2 years, allows visitors to stay for up to 6 months and is mandatory for everyone, including minors and infants.
EU citizens can apply via a smartphone app or the UK government's official website from early March. Applicants will need to provide a passport photo and facial image. The process should take about 10 minutes, according to the Home Office .
However, the UK Government recommends that travellers apply at least 3 days before their trip to avoid the risk of delays. If approved, the ETA will be linked to the applicant's passport.
Air passengers who are only transiting through quarantine areas without entering the UK will be exempt from the scheme.
The ETA program was first launched in 2023 for Qatari citizens, and was later expanded to five other Gulf states. By January this year, it had expanded to around 50 other countries and territories, including Argentina, South Korea and New Zealand. According to the UK Home Office, nearly 1.1 million visitors had been granted an ETA by the end of 2024.
ETA is a similar version of the European Union (EU) ETIAS program for citizens of countries exempted from visa requirements when entering 30 European countries, including France and Germany. ETIAS has been postponed until 2026./.
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