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Individuals can visit the country multiple times within the two-year validity period
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British tourists from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Jordan will be the first to benefit from the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) scheme, the Rishi Sunak government announced on Thursday.
Officials said the scheme will expand globally in 2024, with Qatari tourists taking the lead in applying for the ETA in October 2023.
By applying for an ETA in advance, tourists will benefit from smooth and efficient travel. The application process will be fast, touch and fully digital, with most visitors applying through the mobile app and receiving a decision on their application quickly.
Officials said an ETA is not a visa, which does not allow entry into the UK, but authorizes individuals to travel to the UK. Upon arrival, individuals will still need to follow the current process of obtaining clearance by meeting a Border Force officer or using an eGate (if eligible) to gain entry.
They added that the ETA scheme was in line with border security measures adopted by many of the UK’s international partners, including the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The cost of the ETA will be in line with similar international schemes, and individuals can visit the UK as many times as they are valid for two years. The plan will also further strengthen the UK’s borders by ensuring that every visitor undergoes stringent security checks before travelling.
Individuals are required to provide biometric details and answer a series of eligibility questions as part of the application process. This will ensure UK officials have information about people seeking to come to the UK to help prevent dangerous people, such as criminals, from entering the UK.
Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said: “Strengthening our borders remains one of the Government’s top priorities. The ETA will strengthen our border security by increasing our understanding of people seeking to come to the UK and preventing the arrival of those who pose a threat. It will also improve travel for legitimate tourists, with tourists from GCC countries being the first to benefit.”
Tourists from other GCC countries, including the UAE and Jordan, will be able to apply for the ETA from February 2024, following its initial rollout in Qatar. The new scheme will completely replace the current Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) scheme, which requires visitors to the UK from the GCC country to pay a higher fee for a one-off visit.
By the end of 2024, the ETA will become a requirement worldwide for tourists who do not require a visa for short stays, including those from Europe. Visitors from Europe and other countries such as the US and Australia are currently able to visit the UK without making any form of application. However, this will change with the introduction of ETA.
Qatari tourists will need an ETA to travel to the UK from 15 November 2023 but can apply in advance from 25 October 2023, the officials added. They will continue to need an EVW to travel to the UK until 15 November 2023.
Visitors from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates will need an ETA to travel to the UK from 22 February 2024, but can apply early from 1 February 2024. They will continue to need an EVW to travel to the UK until 22 February 2024.
Visitors from Jordan will need an ETA to travel to the UK from 22 February 2024, but can apply in advance from 1 February 2024. They will continue to need a visa to travel to the UK until 22 February 2024.
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