For anyone intending to enter the country, the United Kingdom (UK) has modified its travel rules.
The UK said that all citizens intending to enter the country, with the exception of British and Irish nationals, must submit an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) application.
The new regulation is applicable to everyone, including children, starting on November 15, 2023.
According to the new travel regulation, all visa applicants who want to visit the UK must get an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) card before they can transit through or enter the nation.
Additionally, UK Home Office says those who formerly qualified for visa-free travel to the UK but are not currently citizens of the country are the ones who require the travel authorization.
People on shorter-than-six-month visits, business travellers, tourists, and people visiting family and friends are all included in the list of people with ETAs. Applicants must submit an online application before making any travel arrangements to the UK. Once issued, it will be good for up to two years’ worth of travel or until the applicant’s current passport expires, whichever comes first.
“The UK’s travel requirements are changing,” the message reads. Everyone who enters or passes through the UK, including minors, will soon need authorization before they travel, with the exception of British and Irish nationals.
This means that if you were previously qualified to visit the UK without a visa and were not already a resident of the country, you will need an electronic travel authorization (ETA). Your stay must be no longer than six months and may include travel for pleasure, business, transit, or short-term study. An ETA gives you permission to go to the UK, but it does not give you admission into the country. You do not need to present a paper copy, however it could be useful to demonstrate the confirmation email for your own records. Therefore, to enter the UK, you would still need to go through passport check at the border.
“Make sure the passport you used to apply for your ETA is presented, and that it is valid for the duration of your stay.”
