“UK Introduces New Travel Requirement: Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Mandatory for Entry, Effective November 15, 2023”
The United Kingdom (UK) has announced updated travel requirements for entry into the country. Starting from November 15, 2023, all travelers, except British and Irish nationals, including children, must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before entering or transiting through the UK.
This requirement applies to individuals who were previously eligible for visa-free travel to the UK and are not already legal residents in the country. Those eligible for ETA include tourists, business travelers, and individuals visiting family and friends. ETA applications must be submitted online before making travel arrangements, and once granted, they will be valid for multiple journeys over two years or until the passport being used expires. It’s essential to note that travelers with valid visas may be denied boarding without a valid ETA, as the ETA is digitally linked to their passports, according to the UK Home Office.
A statement from the UK office reads: “The UK travel requirements are changing. Except for British and Irish citizens, everyone, including children who enter or transit through the UK, will soon require permission before they travel.
“This means that if you were previously eligible to visit the UK without a visa and not already legally resident in the UK, you will need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), your stay must be shorter than six months and could include tourism or visiting family and friends, transit, business, and short term study.
“You do not need to show a paper copy, but it may be helpful to prove the confirmation email for your own records while an ETA grants you permission to travel to the UK, it does not grant you entry. So, you would still need to go through passport control at the border to enter the UK. “Make sure you show the same passport you used to apply for your ETA and that your passport is valid for the whole of your stay.”
