London, March 5, 2025 (Lusa) - From Wednesday, European citizens, including Portuguese, who want to visit the UK can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation and pay 12 euros, which will be compulsory from 2 April.
The process is entirely digital and takes around 10 minutes to complete, but involves a cost of £10 (€12), which is expected to rise to £16 (€19) in the coming weeks.
The British parliament approved legislation this week to increase the value of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), and is only awaiting enactment.
The system is identical to those in place in other countries, such as the United States (ESTA) and Australia (Australian ETA), and which the European Union intends to implement this year for tourists and short-stay visitors (ETIAS).
The British government believes that the ETA will simplify, speed up, and secure the digital immigration system by allowing people to be identified before they enter the country.
‘The expansion of ETA worldwide reinforces our commitment to improving security through technology and innovation,’ said the Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship, Seema Malhotra.
Thus, before entering the UK, travellers must apply online or via the mobile phone app, providing personal and biometric data and answering various questions, including any criminal record.
The British authorities say that a decision will be made within three days, although most are quicker and can take as little as a few seconds or minutes.
The ETA, which is linked to the passport, is valid for two years, but must be renewed if the passport expires.
The authorisation allows an unlimited number of stays over two years in the UK for a maximum consecutive period of six months and is different from a visa, which is needed to study, work and even get married in the country.
The ETA is required even if travellers are passing through the country, for example on a stopover to another destination.
However, following complaints from airlines and airports, a temporary exemption was created for travellers who do so without leaving the airport and therefore do not go through border control, such as at Heathrow or Manchester.
The ETA does not apply to residence permit holders, such as those enrolled in the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) opened after Brexit, visa workers or students, nor to the Irish, who share a common travel area with the UK.
The scheme, which was originally intended for countries that did not require a visa to enter the UK, was extended months after it came into force for citizens of 48 countries and territories, including Brazil, Macau, the United States, Canada, Japan, and Australia.
The UK began issuing ETAs to citizens of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates in 2023.
According to the Home Office, around 1.1 million ETAs were issued from the scheme's introduction in October 2023 to December 2024.
The regime will undergo a period of adaptation in the coming months. The authorities may allow entry into the country even without authorisation, but those who try to circumvent the immigration system could face criminal prosecution.
Lusophone countries such as Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, and Timor-Leste are not eligible for an ETA, and their citizens must first apply for a visa to enter the UK.
BM/ADB // ADB.
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