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<\/p>\nVisitors to the United Kingdom must now apply for an ETA or visa before boarding flights.<\/p>\n
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Travel tip: Keep documents secure on phone<\/p>\n
Keep important documents secure on your phone with these tips.<\/p>\n
ProblemSolved, USA TODAY<\/p>\n
A passport alone will no longer get you into the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n
As of late February, the British government started requiring an electronic travel authorization (ETA) or visa<\/a> for most foreign tourists.<\/p>\n Starting April 23, an ETA will also be required to visit the Channel islands of Jersey<\/a> and Guernsey<\/a> off the coast of France and the Isle of Man<\/a> in the Irish Sea.<\/p>\n “Visitors without an ETA will not be able to board their transport and cannot travel to the UK, unless exempt<\/a>,” the U.K.’s Home Office, or interior department, posted on its official blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n Here’s what travelers should know if they want to visit.<\/p>\n Do you need an ETA or visa?<\/p>\n “You usually need an\u00a0ETA\u00a0rather than a visa if you\u2019re from Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada or certain other countries,” according to the British government.<\/p>\n The ETA can be used for up to six months of visa-free tourism, family visits and other select activities<\/a> outlined on GOV.UK.<\/p>\n Each traveler needs their own ETA, even babies.<\/p>\n How to get an ETA<\/p>\n The fastest way to get an ETA is though the official UK ETA app<\/a>, but applications may also be submitted through the Home Office’s website<\/a> for anyone who can’t use the app.<\/p>\n Either way, applicants will need to upload a photo of their passport and a photo of themselves, answer a series of questions and pay the application fee. Applicants age 10 and over will also need to scan their face.<\/p>\n The whole application process should take about 10 minutes.<\/p>\n How much does a UK ETA cost?<\/p>\n An ETA costs 20 pounds through the UK ETA app or GOV.UK.<\/p>\n That’s equivalent to nearly $28, according to Western Union’s exchange rate<\/a> as of April 14.<\/p>\n The British government notes third-party sites may charge more for applications and warns, “avoid websites that imitate government services.”<\/p>\n How long does it take to get an ETA?<\/p>\n The Home Office says most applicants get an automatic decision within minutes of applying through the app.<\/p>\n