A scheme requiring people visiting the UK without a visa to pay £10 will be expanded to include travellers from most countries, it has been announced.
The move will come in from November, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced.
The Conservative government introduced the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system in November last year for people entering or transiting through the UK without legal residence rights or a visa.
ETAs, which cost £10, are currently required for nationals of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
Ms Cooper announced on Tuesday that the scheme will open up in November for all other nationals, except Europeans, and be required for entry from January 8 2025.
The programme will by extended to European nationals in March 2025, and be a travel requirement for them from April 2 2025.
In a written statement laid before the House of Commons, Ms Cooper wrote: “Once fully rolled out, the ETA scheme will close the current gap in advance permissions and mean that for the first time, we will have a comprehensive understanding of those travelling to the UK.”
How do travellers obtain an ETA?
What you need to know
Online through a UK government website or via the app (search for UK ETA on the Apple app store or Google Play).
You need to supply a photograph and answer a set of questions. The government says: “This will ensure we have information on those seeking to come to the UK helping to prevent dangerous individuals, such as criminals, entering the UK.”
A decision on each case is expected “usually” within three days. In practice, existing similar schemes in the US, Canada and elsewhere deliver approval more quickly.
Commercial sites that are designed to tempt applicants to pay additional fees have already appeared, such as etauk.uk, which is based in Spain and has no connection with the UK government.
When first announced travel industry figures said rules attached to the ETA will disadvantage UK airlines and tourism, particularly to Northern Ireland. At present 60 per cent of non-UK tourists to Northern Ireland also visit the Republic, according to the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance – which says the plan “will be hugely detrimental to tourism on the island”.
The group estimates visitors from Europe and North America could fall by 25 per cent. It says: “The risk is that many global tour operators will exclude Belfast and NI from their itineraries as no longer a feasible option.”
Announced the plan in March 2023, the-then immigration minister, Robert Jenrick, said: “ETAs will enhance our border security by increasing our knowledge about those seeking to come to the UK and preventing the arrival of those who pose a threat. It will also improve travel for legitimate visitors.
“The cost of an ETA will be one of the best value in the world compared to similar international schemes. This small additional cost to visitors will enable us to bolster the security of the UK border and keep our communities safe.”