ETA scheme underway for European nationals travelling to the UK

European nationals will have to get an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) if they want to visit the UK from today.

The ETA scheme was introduced in 2023 for non-European nationals – including those from the USA, Canada and Australia.

The UK government, which says the scheme strengthens the immigration system’s security, is now rolling it out for eligible Europeans, who will need an ETA to travel to the UK from 2 April.

Here’s what you need to know about who needs one and how much it costs to apply

An ETA is a digital permission to travel to the UK. It is not a visa and does not permit entry into the UK – it authorises a person to travel.

Upon being approved, it is attached digitally to the traveller’s passport.

All travellers who do not require a visa to enter the UK for a short stay, or who don’t already have a UK immigration status, are required to have one.

You also do not need an ETA if: you are a British or Irish citizen, you have a visa, you have permission to live, work or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled status or right of abode) you are transiting through a UK airport and you will not pass through border control, you are travelling with a  British National (Overseas) passport or a British overseas territories citizen passport, you live in Ireland and you are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, you are a child travelling on the France-UK school trip travel information form or you are exempt from immigration control.

If you are a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship, you do not need an ETA.

You can prove you are allowed to travel using a valid British or Irish passport or another valid passport containing a certificate of entitlement.

The ETA costs £10 – however, the government has said it intends to raise that to £16 from 9 April.

If an application is rejected, the individual will be told the reason and they can apply again.

If it is refused, they cannot appeal – and instead would need to apply for a visa if they still wish to travel to the UK.

EU travels that require a ETA can apply by visiting the Gov.uk website .