Travelers heading to the United Kingdom will soon need to have an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) waiver. In addition to a £10 fee per applicant (just over $12 in U.S. currency), all foreign visitors without a visa will need to apply for an ETA online in advance of their travel plans.
The ETA, which is electronically linked to your passport, gives travelers permission to travel to the U.K. as part of an effort to fully digitize the country's borders by 2025. According to the official government website, an ETA allows for up to six months of tourism, such as visiting family and friends, business, or study; or up to three months for temporary work. It's also good for two years or until your passport expires, at which point visitors will need to apply for a new ETA.
The rollout will begin in late 2023, starting with citizens from Qatar in November, followed by Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates in February 2024. By the end of 2024, all visitors, including those from the United States, will be required to have one to travel within the country's borders.
While a slight hassle, the concept of an ETA is hardly new. As Travel + Leisure points out, the Europe Union will likewise implement a similar European Travel Information and Authorization System (or ETIAS) next year that will apply to foreign visitors between the ages of 18 to 70 years old. That waiver will come with a €7 fee.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection also requires an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for foreign visitors, which is available through the Visa Waiver Program and costs $21 to apply.
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