General
Traveling to the U.K. Soon? You Might Need to Apply and Pay a Fee First.
As of Jan. 8, an electronic travel authorization will be required for visitors from dozens of visa-exempt countries, including the United States and Canada.
Travelers from the United States, Canada and dozens of other countries who do not require visas to enter the United Kingdom will soon 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.
