Visa Alone Not Enough, Eta Needed For Entry - Uk

The United Kingdom (UK) raised a new policy that all non-British and non-Irish nationals intending to enter the country must obtain Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) cards.

This rule which applies universally even to children will be effective from November 15, 2023. The newly introduced travel requirement signifies a substantial change in UK immigration procedures, making an ETA mandatory for all visa applicants seeking entry into the United Kingdom. The UK Home Office clarified that this policy pertains to individuals who were previously eligible to visit the UK without a visa and are not already legally resident in the country. The ETA requirement extends to various categories of travellers, including those planning visits of less than six months, business travellers, tourists, and individuals visiting family and friends. Prospective visitors are obliged to submit online applications for an ETA before making any travel arrangements involving the UK. Once granted, an ETA will be valid for multiple trips spanning two years or until the expiration of the applicant's passport. Crucially, the UK Home Office stressed that travellers possessing valid visas may be denied boarding without a corresponding ETA. This digital authorization is seamlessly linked to the traveller's passport, ensuring strict compliance with the new regulation. A statement released by the UK Home Office emphasized, "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."