UK Launches New Travel Authorization System
The UK has implemented a new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system for visitors, with particular implications for dual nationals. The system affects entry procedures and documentation requirements, with dual citizens urged to verify their status before traveling. The ETA represents a significant shift in UK immigration policy and could impact entry procedures for millions of travelers.
- The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is not a visa but a digital permission to travel to the UK for non-visa nationals for tourism, business, study, or visiting family for up to six months. - The application costs £16 per person and is done online via the GOV.UK website or the UK ETA app. A decision is typically sent by email within three working days. - An approved ETA is valid for two years, or until the holder's passport expires, and allows for multiple entries into the UK. - The system is being rolled out in phases and will become a mandatory requirement for 85 nationalities, including those from the US, Canada, Australia, and all EU member states, from February 25, 2026. - British and Irish citizens are exempt from needing an ETA and should use their British or Irish passports to travel to the UK. - Dual citizens who hold British or Irish citizenship cannot apply for an ETA and must present their British or Irish passport to their travel carrier to prove their exemption. - The ETA scheme is part of a broader UK government initiative to digitize the border, enhance security by screening visitors in advance, and align with similar systems in place in countries like the United States (ESTA). - Airlines, ferry operators, and other carriers will be required to check for a valid ETA before allowing passengers to board, and those without the necessary authorization will be denied travel.
