Traveling to—or through—the United Kingdom (U.K.) will cost Americans an extra $12.50 per person and a little more time completing paperwork beginning in January.
Jan. 8, 2025, is the start date for new rules requiring travelers with non-European passports to complete an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arrival at U.K. airports, including those in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
“Everyone traveling needs to get an ETA, including babies and children,” according to the U.K. Home Office.
“This expansion of ETA is a significant step forward in delivering a border that’s efficient and fit for the digital age,” said U.K. Minister for Migration and Citizenship Seema Malhotra in a Nov. 27 press statement. “Through light-touch screening, before people step foot in the U.K., we will keep our country safe while ensuring visitors have a smooth travel experience.”
The form can be completed online or via an iPhone or Android mobile app. The application fee is 10 pounds, or about $12.50 at the current exchange rate.
Processing of ETA applications is expected to take up to 72 hours to complete. “You will usually get a decision within three working days, but you may get a quicker decision,” according to the U.K. government’s ETA website. “Occasionally, it may take longer than three working days.”
Once approved, the authorization is good for two years for entry into the U.K. and stays for up to six months. The ETA does not guarantee admission to the U.K.; travelers must still clear border control upon arrival.
The U.S. and other countries also require electronic travel authorization for visitors arriving without a visa and also charge fees.
However, the requirement typically applies to travelers planning to visit the country, whereas the U.K. is also requiring ETAs from passengers transiting through U.K. airports to other destinations, such as those connecting via London’s Heathrow Airport to one of the hundreds of destinations the airport services globally.
