The authorisation costs €12 and can be obtained via the “UK ETA” application or the British government website
The United Kingdom has introduced a new requirement for European travellers, mandating that all EU citizens obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK from April 2 onwards.
As of yesterday, citizens from around thirty European countries—including all those in the European Union (EU), except for Ireland—can request this ETA digitally through the “UK ETA” app or the British government website. According to the British Home Office, the process should only take a few minutes.
British, Irish or British Overseas Territory passport holders or those with a UK visa or immigration status will not require a UK ETA.
The ETA currently costs £10 (€12). However, the government plans to raise this amount to £16 on a date yet to be specified.
The ETA permits visits of up to six months and allows unlimited travel for two years; however, the application must be renewed if a passport changes.
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is already mandatory for visa-exempt visitors from outside the European Union. According to British officials, the ETA aims to enhance border security like the ESTA in the United States.
Referring to the system, which was launched in 2023 to “protect borders” by “digitising the immigration system”, Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship Seema Malhotra commented, “ETA’s expansion across the world confirms our commitment to strengthening security through technology and innovation”.
