UK to Implement Travel Authorization Program for Visitors

Here’s something to consider before finalizing your plans for London Pride this year. The United Kingdom has announced plans to implement an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) visa waiver before the end of 2023.

What this means is that potential visitors to the UK will have to apply for entry into the country in advance of their visit and pay an as-of-yet unconfirmed processing fee. This new procedure will affect all non-visa foreign visitors. To apply, travelers will need to provide their personal details, passport information, and security information online. Applications will then be processed automatically, and travelers can expect a response within 48 to 72 hours. This is all part of Britain’s attempts to improve border control and to obtain “more accurate information regarding the number of people traveling to the UK and the countries they arrive from.” according to the ETA website.

The ETA is modeled after the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) in the United States which similarly requires travelers from countries enrolled in our Visa Waiver Program to apply for visitation authorization. Also similar to the ESTA, the ETA, once granted, will be valid for two years and allow for multiple trips into and out of Great Britain.

Europe is also in the process of enacting a similar process. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will require tourists to pay a €7 application fee in order to visit countries within the European Union come November of this year. This will impact all foreign visitors between the ages of 18 and 70 years old.

As for the United Kingdom’s plan, the ETA is slated to be rolled out to several Gulf countries first including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain, amongst others. No word yet on just when the system will be applied necessary for visitors from the United States and Europe.