Travellers to UK reminded about new border bureaucracy / Article

This is not to be confused with the better-known ETA meaning ‘Estimated Time of Arrival’.

Although it can usually be obtained fairly easily, you must have an ETA in place before you travel.

It is important to note that an ETA is not the same as a visa and that all travellers require one regardless of age, including babies.

Also worth factoring in is the cost. Initially it costs £10 (12 euros) to apply using the UK ETA app or online through GOV.UK, though agencies are free to charge more if they want.

After just one week, from 9 April, the price will be hiked by 60% to £16 (19 euros) to apply for an ETA – regardless of whether the application is actually accepted. So a family of four for example should factor in an additional cost of £64 (76 euros) when working out the costs of travelling to the UK.

Everyone travelling needs to get an ETA, including babies and children. You cannot get a refund after you apply, even if you do not travel.

According to the official UK government website where you can find more information, “You will usually get a decision within 3 working days. Most people get a much quicker decision. Occasionally, it may take longer than 3 working days.”

The ETA will be valid for two years or until the passport with which it is used expires, at which point a new ETA must be applied for.  

People transiting at UK airports do not need an ETA, as long as they remain within the departure area and do not pass through border passport control. Any in doubt about whether this applies to them should get confirmation from their airline in advance.

The European Union is set to introduce its own European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) in 2026, which will cover citizens of 60 countries who will be able to travel visa-free to the bloc’s 26 member states, as well as Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. A fee of €7 is expected to be charged.

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