United Kingdom: Travel authorization required for non-EU citizens

Nationals of around fifty countries, including the United States, Canada and Australia, must from Wednesday be in possession of an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to travel to the United Kingdom.

This document, costing £10 (12 euros) and valid for two years, concerns travelers for whom a visa is not required to enter the United Kingdom.

The ETA system, intended to strengthen border security, was introduced in November 2023, initially for Qataris. It was extended in early 2024 to citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

“More robust security controls”

From April 2, nationals of around thirty European countries – including all EU countries with the exception of Ireland – will also be required to have this travel permit. They will be able to begin the process of obtaining it from March 5, on an application, UK ETA, or online.

This authorization, which is digitally linked to the passport, is also required for children and babies. It does not apply to people residing in the United Kingdom.

The move is part of the UK government’s efforts to digitize its border management system. The Home Office says this will ensure “more robust security checks”. The United States and Australia have introduced similar systems.

A system “devastating for competitiveness”

The European Union plans to do the same in mid-2025, with ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System), an authorization valid for three years at a cost of 7 euros. Around sixty countries will be affected, including the United States, Canada, Brazil and the United Kingdom.

The UK ETA allows you to stay in the UK for up to six months. It authorizes an unlimited number of stays for two years. It is required even if travelers are only transiting through this country.

According to London’s Heathrow Airport, electronic travel authorization has led to a drop in the number of passengers transiting through the UK. He called this system “devastating for competitiveness”.

The United States, Canada and Australia account for 6 million travelers to the United Kingdom each year

As of Wednesday, travelers from 48 countries and territories are affected, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Korea, the United States, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand. Travel authorization applications have been open to them since November.

The United States, Canada and Australia alone account for 6 million travelers to the United Kingdom each year, according to the British Home Office.

The travel authorization does not apply to citizens of countries who require a visa to come to the UK, such as Chinese, Indians or South Africans.

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