From next year, British citizens will be required to apply for an ETIAS to enter participating European countries on a short term basis, under 90 days, for general tourism, business, transit or medical purposes.
And now the British government has confirmed that a new travel permit is being launched in October for people heading to the UK.
The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will start next month for people wanting to travel to the UK the following month.
More countries will be added to the scheme until it encompasses all overseas nations by the end of 2024.
This is Britain’s own equivalent of the similar ETIAS permit that will be needed to enter the European Union from 2024. An ETA will give you permission to travel into the UK and will be electronically linked to your passport.
According to the British government’s website: “An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) will soon be a requirement for people who do not need a visa to come to the UK. It will give you permission to travel to the UK, and it will be electronically linked to your passport.
You’ll need an ETA to:
come to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or study
come to the UK for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession
transit through the UK – including if you’re not going through UK border control
Who will need an ETA
If you’re a national of Qatar
You’ll need an ETA if you’re travelling to the UK on or after 15 November 2023. You’ll be able to apply from 25 October.
If you’re a national of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates
You’ll need an ETA if you’re travelling to the UK on or after 22 February 2024. You’ll be able to apply from 1 February 2024.
If you’re a national of another country you do not need to apply for an ETA now.
More nationalities will be added to the scheme later.
For more information visit:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/electronic-travel-authorisation-eta
5 comments
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Morgan WilliamsThis is the price you pay by refusing ID cards. No chance to know who is legal or illegal.
Richard PearsonAnyone with a British passport can enter as they want and when, including the Welsh, no matter where they live abroad. They can stay as long as they like but if too long they will become resident in the UK, with tax implications.
As usual it is clear as mud when the government introduce something new.
I wonder where they got that idea? Still, it won't stop the "boat people" (or the Welsh 😜). But wait... one of the few attractions of Britain for "boat people" is that Britain has minimal understanding of who's living there illegitimately. No requirement to identify oneself or prove legitimate residency. So, once you're in... you're in. The rest can be "arranged" relatively easily. Very attractive for would-be undocumented migrants. Yet despite all the fury and outrage about "boat people", they actually represent a small fraction of "foreigners" illegitimately living in the UK with no official residency. The UK really has no idea how many illegitimate residents there are, but it's estimated to be in the millions. "Boat people" who actually make it through the gauntlet only account for a few thousand. Having said that, human trafficking (anywhere) is a horrible thing and needs to be quashed. One way might be to make it less attractive? By being obliged to be able to identify and prove oneself? Might explain why undocumented migrants don't have much luck in Europe. Still, as a last resort, there's always the channel. But then, it seems that may not be an attractive option for much longer.
Will British subjects and the younger generation citizens, including the Welsh, who legally reside and live in Spain, have to apply for this document? And will it limit the time they can stay in Blighty ? All opinions will be taken into consideration, even negative votes.