European citizens traveling to the United Kingdom will be required to obtain a mandatory entry permit, the so called Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), as of Wednesday, April 2. This measure the British government claims will enhance border security.
The Electronic Travel Authorization can currently be purchased online for 10 pounds (12 euros), but the price is set to rise to 16 pounds from April 9.
The system, similar to the U.S. ESTA program, will become mandatory for all European visitors to Britain from April 2. This follows its January extension to include travelers from the United States, Canada, and other visa-exempt countries.
Nationals of approximately 30 European countries—including all EU member states except Ireland—will need to present an ETA upon arrival in the UK, which formally left the European Union in 2020.
The permit allows visits of up to six months and remains valid for two years. It applies to all travelers, including minors and infants.
The application process, available via a smartphone app or the UK government’s website, has been open to European citizens since early March.
Applicants must submit a photograph of their passport and face, with the process taking around 10 minutes, according to the Home Office. In most cases, decisions are made within minutes, though authorities recommend allowing up to three working days for processing.
Once approved, the ETA is digitally linked to the applicant’s passport. However, passengers transiting through UK airports without crossing the country’s borders are exempt, following lobbying from Heathrow Airport, which feared a decline in connecting passenger traffic. Currently, only Heathrow and Manchester airports have provisions for airside transit within the UK.
The ETA system, first introduced in 2023 for Qatar, has since expanded to multiple other countries but does not apply to UK residents or individuals with an established immigration status in Britain.
