Starting from the 2nd of April, all citizens of European Union member states — including Latvia — will be required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for short-term entry into the United Kingdom, according to Latvia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The ETA will be required for everyone, regardless of age. It can be applied for on behalf of another person, such as a child or an elderly relative. The ETA will also be necessary for those entering the UK in transit, except in cases where the individual remains in the airport’s transit zone and does not pass through UK border control.
The ETA will be linked to the traveller’s passport and will be valid for two years. Currently, the application fee is 12 euros, but this will increase to 19 euros as of the 9th of April. Decisions on ETA approval are typically made within three working days
The ETA requirement does not apply to individuals who need a visa to enter the UK, those who hold long-term residence permits (including settled or pre-settled status), or citizens of the UK and Ireland.
Additionally, residents of Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man entering the UK from those territories are exempt if they can provide proof of residence.
According to information on the UK government’s website, an ETA will allow travel to the UK for up to six months for purposes such as tourism, visiting family or friends, business, or short-term studies.
It also allows travel to the UK for up to three months under the “Creative Worker” visa concession. This visa permits individuals such as artists, actors, dancers, musicians, and designers to temporarily work in the UK’s creative sector. ETA holders will also be able to enter the UK for certain permitted paid work activities.
However, the ETA does not allow stays longer than six months, employment (paid or unpaid) for a UK company or as self-employed (unless permitted under specific exceptions), claiming public funds or benefits, living in the UK, making frequent or successive short visits, getting married, forming a civil partnership, or applying to register one
The UK government’s website states that the fastest way to apply is via the UK ETA app, available on the App Store and Google Play,
To apply for an ETA, travellers will need the passport they plan to use for travel, an email address, and a method of payment. Accepted payment methods include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.