UK Introduces Digital Travel Authorisation for Visitors

Travellers to the United Kingdom can now apply for the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which will become a mandatory requirement starting April 2. After this date, a passport alone will no longer be sufficient for entry into the UK.

The ETA serves as a digital security screening for travellers who do not require a visa to enter Britain. The application fee is currently 10 euros (12.80 U.S. dollars) but will increase to 16 euros in the coming months.

According to the UK government’s Home Office, the ETA is not a visa and does not guarantee entry but grants permission to travel to the UK. "The introduction of ETAs is in line with the approach many other countries have taken to border security, including the U.S. and Australia," the Home Office stated on its ETA website.

“It helps prevent the arrival of those who present a threat to the UK,” the website notes, explaining that the system includes security screenings such as criminal record checks. It is also designed to reduce the misuse of the UK immigration system, the Home Office added.

A successfully approved ETA allows multiple entries and stays of up to six months within a two-year period, provided the traveller's passport remains valid. The Home Office recommends applying via its dedicated mobile app, where applicants must answer security questions, provide their address and workplace details, and upload a passport photo.

For travellers aged nine and older, a facial photograph is also required. Those without a compatible smartphone can apply using a computer via the official ETA website.