Travelling to the UK? European Visitors Now Need an Entry Permit

Beginning Wednesday, travellers from most European countries will be required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before entering the United Kingdom, under new border security measures introduced by the British government.

The permit applies to visitors from around 30 European countries, excluding Ireland, and is valid for two years. It allows stays of up to six months per visit.

According to the UK’s Migration Minister, Seema Malhotra, the move is part of efforts to modernise the country’s immigration system and strengthen border control.

“By digitising the immigration system, we are paving the way for a contactless UK border,” Malhotra said earlier this month.

Applications for the ETA opened in early March and can be completed online or via a mobile app. Travellers are required to upload a photograph of their passport and face.

The process takes approximately 10 minutes, with most applications approved within minutes. However, applicants are advised to apply at least three working days before their intended travel date.

The permit costs £10 (€12) but will rise to £16 from April 9.

The UK previously rolled out the ETA system for visa-exempt travellers from the United States, Canada, and other countries in January, after an initial pilot phase in 2023 with Qatari nationals.

The scheme was later extended to visitors from Gulf nations, Argentina, South Korea, and New Zealand. By the end of 2024, nearly 1.1 million visitors had obtained ETAs, according to the UK Home Office.

The requirement does not apply to UK residents or individuals with an existing immigration status.

Meanwhile, the European Union is developing a similar system, known as the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which will apply to visa-exempt travellers visiting 30 European countries.

The EU scheme, however, has been delayed and is now expected to launch in 2026.