UK Extends ETA Requirement To All Foreign Travellers, Including Europeans

Starting in 2025, European travellers to the United Kingdom will be required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before entering the country without a visa and pay a visa waiver fee of GBP 10 (USD 13 approximately). The ETA scheme was first introduced in March 2023 to monitor those entering or transiting the UK without a visa or legal residence rights.

In the coming year, all visitors to the UK, including children, those without a visa, and travellers without permission to reside, work, or study in the country, will be subject to this non-refundable fee. Currently, travellers from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have to apply for ETA before visiting the UK.

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How the ETA fee will impact travel to the UK

(CNN) — European travellers visiting the UK without a visa will soon be required to pay a £10 waiver fee. The new rules, which will come into effect over the next year, will see the UK’s electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system. https://t.co/4oWCsAvibh #CBCNewsBarbados pic.twitter.com/htOIq7RgNQ

— CBC BARBADOS (@CBCBARBADOS) September 10, 2024

While most international visitors must obtain an ETA for entry into the UK from January 8, 2025, the programme will be extended to Europeans and become a travel pre-requisite starting April 2, 2025. The ETA permits, however, will not apply to Irish nationals.

“Once fully rolled out, the ETA scheme will close the current gap in advance permissions and for the first time, we will have a comprehensive understanding of those travelling to the UK,” said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, in a report by The Standard.

The introduction of the ETA visa waiver fee is expected to have minimal impact on most travellers. Similar visa waiver programmes, such as the USA’s ESTA (priced at USD 13) and the EU ETIAS (priced at roughly USD 7.50), have been in place for several years without causing significant disruptions to tourism.

While the UK government believes that the ETA will strengthen security, some have raised concerns about its potential impact on tourism. Heathrow Airport authorities have reported a 90,000 decline in transfer passengers on routes affected by the ETA, suggesting that the fee may deter some travellers.

(Feature Image Credit:Dominika Gregušová/Pexels)

Related: Indians With A Valid UK Visa Can Visit These 25 Countries Visa-Free

Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.

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