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Starting January 8, an electronic authorization will be required for visitors from dozens of visa-exempt countries, including the United States and Canada.
By Christine Chung
Travelers from the US, Canada and dozens of other countries that do not require a visa to enter the UK will now want to apply for virtual clearance to be able to transit through the country.
The electronic travel authorization, called ETA and linked to a traveler’s passport, costs 10 pounds, or around $13, and lasts two years. The requirement was introduced about a year ago for nationals of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and four other Gulf nations and will extend to more than 40 visa-exempt countries starting Jan. 8. It will eventually apply to all visa-exempt travelers wishing to visit the United Kingdom, including those from the European Union.
Travelers connecting through UK airports and having final destinations elsewhere will also need to apply for an ETA; This policy is currently being reviewed.
The ETA system is part of a mission to “deliver a more streamlined, digital immigration system” that will enhance border security, according to a news release from the British Home Office.
Here’s what you want to know about the ETA and the application process.
The ETA is for short-term visits of less than six months and for visa-exempt travelers only; The full list of applicable nationalities can be obtained online. The ETA does not update existing visa policies, which require citizens of dozens of countries and territories to apply for and obtain a visa to enter the United Kingdom.
British and Irish citizens, visa holders and others who are allowed to live, work or study in the UK do not want to apply for the ETA.
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