From the 25th of February, people travelling to the UK will have to apply for an electronic authorisation in advance or be denied travel, Reuters reports.
The UK Home Office has said the requirement will apply to travellers from 85 countries. The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme requires all travellers who do not require a visa to enter the UK to purchase an authorisation online, which costs 16 pounds, before travelling.
The ETA was introduced in 2023 and was extended to European citizens in April last year, but until now, the authorisation has not been strictly checked. However, from the 25th of February, an ETA is mandatory. This means that airlines will not allow passengers to board their flights without an ETA, electronic visa or other valid document.
The ETA is not required for UK and Irish citizens, as well as those who are entitled to to stay in the UK.
UK immigration minister Mike Tapp said the ETA was part of a drive to strengthen border security and deliver a service that works for both visitors and the British public.
The European Union introduced long-delayed security checks for British citizens last October. Britain left the bloc in 2020. The EU’s ESS system has removed the need for manual stamping of passports at the EU’s external borders, with digital data being retained in its place.
However, travellers have complained that the new system has caused delays at some airports, and industry leaders have expressed concerns that widespread disruption and flight delays are expected over Easter.
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