In a shake-up of long-standing travel rules, European nationals heading to the UK will from Wednesday, April 2nd need a mandatory entry permit.
The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) can be bought online in the next few days for £10 (€12), but the price is rising swiftly from April 9th to £16 (€19).
The permit allows visits of up to six months and is valid for two years. It is required for all travellers, including minors and babies.
The application, which can be made on a smartphone app or through the government website, has been open to Europeans since the start of March.
From Wednesday, nationals of some thirty European countries—including all those in the European Union except Ireland—will need to carry the electronic permit to enter Britain, which left the EU in 2020.
The applicant will need to provide a photo of their passport and their face. The process takes around 10 minutes, according to the Home Office.
In most cases, an application decision is made within minutes. However, the government recommends allowing up to three working days for the application.
If successful, the ETA is digitally linked to the applicant’s passport.
