By Abiola Olawale
In a shake-up of its immigration system, the United Kingdom is set to begin the imposition of a mandatory Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirement on European nationals starting Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
According to the UK immigration authorities, this move is aimed at bolstering border security, ending decades of visa-free access for Europeans since Britain’s exit from the European Union in 2020.
The ETA, priced at £10 (12 euros) until April 9 when it rises to £16, will be required for all visitors from some 30 European countries, encompassing all EU nations except Ireland, for short stays of up to six months.
Valid for two years or until the passport expires, the permit allows multiple entries and mirrors systems like the U.S. ESTA.
Applications can be submitted via a smartphone app or the UK government website, with most approvals granted within minutes, though officials recommend applying at least three days in advance.
The applicant will need to provide a photo of their passport and their face. The process takes around 10 minutes, according to the Home Office.
If successful, the ETA is digitally linked to the applicant’s passport.
Also, flight passengers transiting airside without crossing the UK border are exempt from the scheme after pressure from Heathrow, which feared a loss of passenger footfall connecting through Europe’s busiest airport.
Only Heathrow and Manchester airports have provisions for airside transit in the UK.
