Are you planning to travel to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, or Wales? You should be aware that your vacation will soon become a little more expensive. If you recall, the UK left the EU a few years ago. It has recently disclosed the cost of its own programme, the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), which costs approximately £10 for two years. Here is everything you need to know about the UK entry fee.
UK Has Introduced A New Entry Fee For Travellers
According to the Times Of India report, the UK has already declared that beginning in 2024, visa-free travellers would be needed to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). It means all visitors (aside from citizens of the United Kingdom and Ireland) must seek authorization and pay a fee before entering the country.
However, the government claims that the ETA will allow repeated travel, be valid for two years or until the holder’s passport expires, whichever occurs first, and that its cost is reasonable and comparable to other similar international systems offered by foreign partners.
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According to reports, the procedure will be electronically linked to the applicant’s passport and is expected to take between 48 and 72 hours. After that, travellers will be able to stay in the UK for up to 180 days (6 months) and choose to travel wherever in the nation provided the ETA is received.
Who Would Need To Apply For Electronic Travel Authorization?
The ETA is a need for those who can visit the UK without a visa, according to the government. Therefore, anyone arriving on vacation, visiting family or friends, or coming to the UK for up to six months of business or study qualifies. Additionally, it applies to anyone transiting through the UK and those who qualify for the Creative Worker visa waiver.
The new system is being implemented in phases throughout the UK. It will be applicable to visitors from Qatar starting on November 15. It will then be made available to nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates starting on February 22, 2024.
Since the UK and Ireland have a common travel agreement, Irish citizens are exempt from the ETA requirement.
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First Published: June 20, 2023 7:11 PM