It's not exactly a visa, although it's a travel permit: from next month, entry to the UK will only be possible with a prior authorisation for this. What is the ETA system?
What's changing when visiting the UK
Until now, a passport was sufficient for a tourist stay of up to 90 days. Now that's changing: from Wednesday (March 5) all travellers to the UK who don't need a visa, such as EU citizens, can apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA). From April 2 this year it becomes mandatory for travel to the Island, including by plane.
What is an ETA?
Essentially, an ETA is a digital security check for those travelling to the UK without a visa. Among other things, it provides a criminal background check for applicants to visit the UK, i.e. whether they have been convicted. A successfully submitted ETA application entitles multiple entry into the country and a stay of up to six months within two years.
As an ETA is issued for a specific passport, the permit is valid only with that document. If it expires, a new ETA application must be submitted - with the new passport.
How to apply for an ETA?
The British Home Office recommends using a specially developed application. In it, the applicant must answer security-related questions, indicate their address and place of work, upload a photo of their passport, and for persons over 9 years of age - a photo of their face.
The fee for the electronic permit is 10 British pounds (about 12 euros), and the deadline for its issuance is up to 3 days after it is requested.
Transit travelers, for example if they change planes at an airport in the United Kingdom, need to obtain an ETA only in some cases - depending on whether they have to go through customs control at the airport or not. Therefore, it is a good idea to make an inquiry to the relevant airline.
What London expects from the new measure
The British government hopes that the ETA will lead to “more reliable security checks to prevent abuse of our immigration system“. Another effect of the introduction of the new system: since ETA is mandatory for a number of countries, it is expected to generate billions of pounds of additional revenue for the state treasury.