Visitors to the U.K. from 48 countries must now apply and pay a fee before travel
CTV
The U.K. will introduce its ETA system on Jan. 8. ETA, which stands for Electronic Travel Authorisation, is a new digital registration scheme for travelers who don’t need a visa to enter the U.K.
If 2024 was the year travellers were spared the introduction of bureaucracy for visa-free travel to Europe, 2025 is the year reality kicks in.
The European Union’s ETIAS visa waiver, much delayed, is currently on track to roll out in 2025.
Before that, the U.K. will introduce its ETA system on Jan. 8.
ETA, which stands for Electronic Travel Authorisation, is a new digital registration scheme for travellers who don’t need a visa to enter the U.K.
While before they could hop on a plane and present themselves at passport control on landing, now, travellers will need to get pre-travel authorization to fly to the U.K.
Here’s what to know about the new rules.
Anyone who doesn’t need a visa to travel to the U.K. will soon need an ETA — an “electronic travel authorization” which pre-clears you for entry to the country before travel. This is the U.K. equivalent of the United States’ ESTA — a mandatory, paid-for authorization to travel, with security clearance done in advance.
