The EU is planning big changes for travel with the new EES and ETIAS systems (more on those here) - but the UK has already brought in a new requirement for travellers.
The UK's ETA visa waiver became a requirement for citizens from EU and EFTA countries (Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein) from April 2nd, with online applications opening back in March.
That means that this summer, anyone travelling to the UK will need to arrange this travel authorisation online - with the exception of those who are travelling on a British or Irish passport, or anyone who has residency in the UK.
Numerous unofficial websites are charging travellers far more than the official UK government website, so make sure to go via the right one. (More on this below).
What is it?
ETA stands for Electronic Travel Authorisation and it is essentially entry permission that visa-free travellers like tourists need to apply for online in advance of their trip.
It costs £16 (€19) - up from the original price of £10 - and lasts two years, allowing multiple entries to the UK while it is valid.
Like the EU's version ETIAS, it is modelled on the USA's ESTA visa waiver, and is required for all types of travel including tourism, short stays and family holidays.
It was introduced in a phased stage but the final stage - EU and EEA citizens - went live in April.
Since April 2nd 2005, only people travelling on a UK or Irish passport are exempt from the requirement.
Other exemptions?
As mentioned, people travelling on a UK or Irish passport are exempt.
Also exempt are UK visa holders or anyone who has residency status in the UK (for example EU nationals who moved before Brexit and have Settled or Pre-Settled Status). An ETA is not required if you live in Ireland and you’re travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.
Otherwise everyone needs one - including children or babies and EU nationals who have a British spouse.
In the initial version of the law, airline passengers who are simply transiting through the UK did need one - however the UK government then backtracked in the face of fury from the aviation industry and said that transit passengers do not need one.
The ETA is intended for short visits such as holidays and family stays - it does not allow people to stay in the UK for more than 180 days or to work in the UK.
School pupils travelling from France on an organised trip do not require an ETA due to a bilateral UK-France deal, but the school will be responsible for getting a group entry permit for the class.
How can I get one?
You apply online or on the UK ETA app in advance of your trip. The UK government says that applications will normally be processed within three working days, but may take longer at busy times, such as the summer holidays. You cannot enter the UK until the ETA has been processed.
The ETA costs £16 and lasts for two years. During that time you can make multiple trips to the UK. If your passport is renewed during that time period, you will need to apply for a new ETA.
You cannot make group applications - each person in a group needs their own ETA, but you can make the application for another person.
Find the UK government website HERE.
Can you travel without one?
The UK government tells travellers they must have applied for one before travelling, however people can travel if they are still waiting for the decision. They will just need confirmation they have applied for one - such as the email confirming that the application has been made.
If you are flying, airline staff will check before you board the plane and you will likely be denied boarding if you don't have the ETA or confirmation that you have applied for one.
Warning for scam sites
There are no external companies or websites that are authorised by the UK government to provide the ETA visa waiver.
Any company that offers to complete the process for you is at the very least likely to charge you more than the usual fee for a service that you can easily do yourself on the government website.
READ ALSO: How to avoid being scammed when getting an ETA for the UK
You just have to go to Google and type "ETA for UK" to see the number of "sponsored" sites offering to take you through the process.
Some of the non-official websites do spell out that they are needless, but you'll have to scroll to the very bottom to find out.
For example, text at the bottom of the UKETA.com site reads: "We are not affiliated with the United Kingdom government in any way. Applicants still have the option to apply for the UK ETA on their own via the official government portal at gov.uk without paying any additional professional fees."
So as they say, to avoid paying extra, just go to the gov.uk ETA site.
For more on how to avoid paying too much and whether you can get your money back if you do, read our full article.
What about dual nationals?
The situation for dual nationals is complicated as the way that the system works in practice appears to force dual nationals to use their UK passport - even though UK law does not specify this.
The situation has been further muddied by confusing and contradictory advice from different government sources.
You can read the full story in the link below.
READ ALSO: Confusion surrounds ETA process for some UK dual nationals
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