The Home Office of Great Britain has announced the dates for the introduction of its electronic travel authorization scheme for representatives of various countries around the world. Find out when the document will be needed by citizens of the USA, Europe, Canada, Australia and others

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The UK government has announced that the list of foreign visitors who will need an ETA travel authorization to travel to the country will gradually expand. As early as November 2024, citizens of 49 non-EU countries will need a permit costing £10 (US$13) to enter the country. In general, the leadership of Great Britain plans to fully digitize borders by April 2025.

We have collected everything that is currently known about the change in the visa policy of Great Britain in this article.

Who will need an ETA to enter the UK and when?

- Countries for whose citizens ETA already works

Citizens of Qatar were the first for whom Great Britain introduced an ETA travel permit. For them, the system has been working since November 15, 2023.

The next group included visitors from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Jordan. Travelers from these countries will issue an ETA from February 2024.

- Countries for which the ETA permit will be introduced in November 2024

The UK government has announced that the ETA will open to 49 non-EU countries from 27 November 2024 and will become mandatory for entry from 8 January 2025.

This group will include citizens of the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea , St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Taiwan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, the United States, and Uruguay.

- Timing of the introduction of the ETA system for EU citizens

Europeans will be required to receive an ETA for travel from 2 April 2025 and applications can be submitted from 5 March 2025.

Citizens of the following countries will need an electronic entry permit: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta , Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the Vatican.

How do I apply for an ETA to enter the UK?

Once the ETA system is implemented in your country, you will need to complete an online application form before entering the UK, which will grant you permission to enter.

It will be possible to submit an application using a special mobile application. For this, you will need the following documents:

- valid biometric passport;

- travel information;

- e-mail address;

- credit or debit card.

In addition, you will have to answer a number of questions about your future trip.

There will be a small application fee, set at £10 (€11.66).

Travelers are encouraged to apply at least a few days before their intended trip, and approval should be granted within 72 hours.

ETAs can also be obtained in lieu of a visa by those entering the UK for up to three months on a Creative Worker visa concession and those entering for authorized gainful employment.

Your ETA will be valid for six months – meaning you will not need to apply for a new travel authorization if you visit the UK again within that time period.

When planning a trip abroad, be sure to take care of a travel insurance policy, which will protect you from unforeseen situations during the trip and compensate for unplanned expenses - for treatment, in case of lost luggage, flight cancellation, etc.

Why did the UK decide to introduce the ETA permit?

The ETA is part of the UK's plan to digitize its borders by the end of 2025. The system is digitally linked to travelers' passports and provides a more reliable security check.

Comparison with other visa-free programs

Electronic entry permits are introduced in various countries of the world:

- The United States has a similar system known as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which was first introduced in 2009. An ESTA currently costs $21 and is valid for two years.

- Similarly, the European Union plans to launch its visa waiver program, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), in 2025. ETIAS will be valid for three years and will cost travelers €7 (approximately $7.50).

- ETA-IL permit for visa-free travelers to Israel - Citizens of the 99 countries eligible for short-term visa-free travel to Israel must now apply for an ETA-IL permit before traveling. Currently, the procedure for obtaining it is voluntary, but from January 1, 2025, it will become a mandatory condition for visiting the state.

The new entry permit to the UK is a major change in the country's immigration policy, which aims to strengthen border security and manage the flow of visitors. Travelers should stay informed and prepare for this new requirement to avoid disruptions during their move.

We will remind you! In October 2024, the ETIAS system will become operational in the European Union, according to which the rules of travel will change for 1.4 billion people from 60 countries of the world. From now on, citizens of countries that previously entered the Schengen area on the basis of a visa-free visa will need to have an ETIAS permit to enter European countries.

Igor Usyk - Head of Migration department at VisitWorld

To ensure safe passage to the UK, I advise you to contact a specialist. My colleagues, qualified specialists with legal education, will help you avoid unpleasant situations during migration abroad.

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