Starting in 2025, EU and US citizens will be required to apply for a £10 travel permit to enter the UK, under a new electronic travel authorization (ETA) scheme aimed at strengthening border security. The new rules, which were detailed in government documents released on Tuesday, will apply to all visitors who do not need a visa to travel to the UK.
The ETA system is modelled after the United States' Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), allowing travellers to take multiple trips to the UK within a two-year period or until their passport expires. The £10 permit is designed to provide digital permission to travel and is part of the UK's efforts to modernize its immigration system.
The scheme is being phased in gradually and has already been trialed with visitors from seven Middle Eastern countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. From January 8, 2025, it will expand to cover travellers from more than 40 countries and territories, including the US, Australia, Japan, and Israel. EU nationals will be included from April 2, 2025, although Irish citizens will be exempt.
Seema Malhotra, the UK’s minister for migration and citizenship, said the rollout of the ETA program reflects the government’s commitment to improving border security using new technology. “The worldwide expansion of the ETA demonstrates our commitment to enhance security through new technology and embedding a modern immigration system,” Malhotra stated.
The ETA will also apply to transfer passengers who pass through UK airports without officially entering the country. This aspect of the scheme has already sparked concerns from Heathrow Airport, which reported losing 90,000 transit passengers since the ETA trial began for Middle Eastern travelers. Heathrow warned that the policy could harm its competitiveness as a hub and urged the government to reconsider including airside transit passengers in the program.
Since Brexit, travel between the UK and EU has faced additional border formalities, leading to longer passport checks and occasional travel disruptions, particularly for Eurostar services and Channel crossings. UK citizens will also be subject to new EU biometric border checks, set to begin in November 2024, and a separate EU visa waiver program similar to the UK’s ETA will come into effect in 2025.
The UK government views the ETA system as a critical step in enhancing security and streamlining immigration procedures for travelers entering the country. However, concerns remain about the potential impact on the UK's tourism and aviation sectors as these new rules come into force.
