New rules and documents required for travelers to the United Kingdom. These will come into effect on April 2nd, when it will be necessary to have an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), the electronic authorization required to travel to the UK. From today, Wednesday, March 5th, it is possible to start applying for this permit.

The ETA is “in line with the approach adopted by many other countries for border security, including the United States and Australia,” and its goal is to “help prevent the arrival of individuals who pose a threat to the UK,” explained Pierluigi Puglia, spokesperson for the British Embassy in Italy.

What is the ETA and how much does it cost?

The ETA is a digital travel permit. It is not a visa but authorizes a person to enter the United Kingdom. The introduction of the ETA aligns with the approach adopted by many other countries for border security, including the United States and Australia, and helps prevent the arrival of individuals who pose a threat to the UK. The ETA currently costs £10 (approximately €12) and allows multiple visits to the UK for stays of up to six consecutive months, within a two-year period or until the passport of the holder expires, whichever comes first.

How to apply for the ETA

Applying for an ETA is simple and fast. Visitors must apply in advance. For information on eligibility for the ETA and how to apply before traveling to the UK, visit the Gov.uk website. The easiest way to apply for an ETA is through the “UK ETA app,” which can be downloaded from Google Play or the Apple App Store. If you do not have access to a smartphone, you can apply online through the Gov.uk website. Most applicants will receive an automatic response within a few minutes via the UK ETA app, so it will still be possible to plan trips to the UK on short notice. However, visitors should still apply in advance, with an estimated wait of three days, although this is based on a small number of requests that may require additional checks.

Documents required for the ETA

To apply for an ETA, you need to: pay a fee; provide your contact details and passport information; submit a valid photograph in accordance with the digital photo requirements on the Gov.uk website; answer a series of questions. Visitors must travel with the same passport used for the ETA application. ETA applicants provide their biographical, biometric, and contact information and answer a series of questions. This helps increase knowledge of the people intending to enter the UK and prevents the entry of those who may pose a threat.

If the application is rejected

If an ETA application is rejected, the reason for the refusal will be communicated to the applicant, who may submit a new application. If the ETA request is refused, the applicant cannot appeal and, if they still wish to travel to the UK, they will need to apply for a visa. As with all UK fees, the cost of the ETA will be reviewed periodically and will rise to £16 in the near future. Further information will be provided in due course. This increase will reduce reliance on UK taxpayers’ funding for the migration and border management system.

Following feedback from the aviation industry, the UK government has agreed to a temporary exemption (from the ETA requirement) for passengers transiting through airport transit areas and who do not pass through UK border control. The exemption will be kept under review and may be modified in the future. Passengers transiting through the UK who go through border control will still be required to apply for an ETA, if required for their nationality.