Those travelling into the UK should be aware of changes that have come in or will be coming in shortly – we have written about other changes relating to the digitalisation of the UK border here.
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
An ETA is a digital permit which gives you permission to travel to the UK. The ETA digital permit allows the authorities to screen travellers before they arrive.
Most people travelling into the UK will need to ensure they have applied for and obtained an ETA (electronic travel authorisation) – this is similar to an ESTA (required when travelling to the US).
You need an ETA if you:
- Are coming to the UK for up to six months for tourism, visiting family and friends, on a business trip (not work), or
- Are transiting through the UK – even if you do not go through border control on your arrival in the UK.
You do not need an ETA if you:
- Already have a visa to enter the UK– for example, if you have permission to live, work or study in the UK, or if you have settled or pre-settled status as an EU national having applied under the EU Settlement Scheme.
- If you are a visa national – i.e., you require a visa to visit the UK– and have a valid visit visa.
- Are a British or Irish national, including if you are a dual national with British or Irish citizenship.
An ETA does not allow you to:
- Undertake paid or unpaid work in the UK, either as an employee, or as a self-employed person.
- Live in the UK through frequent or successive visits.
It is fast and simple to apply, you can apply for an ETA using the UK ETA app here.
It costs £10 to apply, and your application should be processed within 2-3 days. Should an ETA application be refused, the applicant will be told the reason for the refusal, and they will then need to apply for a standard visitor visa to enable them to enter the UK – a visitor visa is a longer and more detailed process which the traveller will need to undertake in their country of residence. This could involve further investigation into the reasons for the ETA refusal, and will take longer than the ETA to be processed.
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