Beware of travellers going to or planning a trip to the United Kingdom. Wednesday 2 April 2025 marks the application of l'Electronic Travel Authorization (Electronic Travel Authorisation or ETA) for travellers from the European Union. This authorisation had already become compulsory for travellers from other continents.
The document covers travel to the UK for leisure, authorised professional activities, short-term study and land transit (border control when connecting with a return flight). The length of stay granted by the United Kingdom is six months maximum.
ETA hides another nasty surprise for travellers. The cost of £10, or around €12, will rise from 9 April.. It will move to 16 bookswhich is approximately €19. It is also recommended for first-time applications, not to leave things to the last minute. It is necessary to an average processing time of three working days to receive your ETA online.
Once granted, the permit is valid for 2 years. Or until the expiry of the passport to which it is linked. A special application is available on Google Play or App Store. You can also register online at the British government website. However, there is a waiting period.
It is also advisable to allow for longer waiting times at airports and railway stations due to possible more thorough checks by the UK immigration authorities.
