UK to introduce new Electronic Travel Authorisation system

The United Kingdom (UK) will soon roll out a new Electronic Travel Authorisation system for international travellers entering the country.

UK-bound international travellers to be authorised for travel

Travellers to the United Kingdom will soon be expected to fill out and pay for an application for permission to travel to the country, say reports.

The new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system will be put in place by the end of 2023 and will be applicable to all inbound international travellers outside of Britain and Ireland.

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The main goal of the ETA is to screen visitors before they arrive in the country. According to the United Kingdom government website:

“The scheme will give the UK more control of our borders, allowing us to block threats from entering the UK, whilst also providing individuals, and carriers, with more assurance at an earlier point in time about their ability to travel to the UK.

The ETA will provide more accurate information regarding the number of people travelling to the UK and the countries they arrive from.

In addition to providing accurate data, ETA will also make the UK an even safer destination. By screening passengers before they reach the UK, threats can be detected earlier”

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The ETA will be valid for at least two years, and will allow inbound travellers to use it for multiple trips to the country.

The cost of the application is still to be announced, but expectations are that it will be a small fee, similar to what other countries charge for pre-travel authorisation systems.

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