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A new travel rule is now in force meaning people from 48 different countries will be forced to pay £10 should they wish to enter the UK.

From January 8, people from these countries will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) visa – a new type of that-need-eta”>digital registration scheme for travellers who don’t already need a visa to enter the country.

The ETA is intended for short stays in the UK, whether that be for tourism, business, study, or permitted paid engagements that will last under six months. EU citizens travelling to the UK will need to get one too, but not until April 2, 2025.

The with new charge to enter the country” href=”https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1946971/eu-visitors-10-charge-uk”>£10 cost is non-refundable and applications must be filled out online or through the official app. For holidaymakers in a rush, doing it on the app is preferable as the processing time is only 10 minutes.

To apply, tourists must upload photos of themselves and their passport, and answer questions about their reasons for wanting to enter the UK. The process takes roughly 20 minutes and must be done in one go.

A decision will usually come through within three days, but it could take longer. Tourists are still allowed to travel to the UK while a decision is pending.

However, being approved for an ETA does not automatically guarantee entry into the UK; visitors must still go through passport control and can be have to pay expanded UK border fee” href=”https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/1946758/electronic-travel-authorisation-scheme-set-expansion-uk-covering-non-european-travellers-f”>denied entry by Border Force.

You do not need an ETA if:

  • You have a visa
  • You have permission to live, work or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled status or right of abode)
  • You are a British or Irish citizen
  • You are travelling with a British overseas territories citizen passport
  • You live in Ireland and you are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man

Visitors are being urged to avoid using third-party websites to fill out the ETA application, as these may charge more money and are unlikely to be safe.

The scheme was initially rolled out in November 2023 for people from Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.

The Home Office says the system is a way to carry out “more robust security checks are carried out before people begin their journey to the UK” in order to crack down on “abuse of our immigration system”.



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