UK Introduces New Visa-Waiver Entry System Requiring Paid Authorisation for Visitors

Visitors from numerous countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, are now required to pay a fee to enter the UK following the implementation of a new visa-waiver entry system effective Wednesday.

The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, similar to the ESTA system in the United States, mandates pre-travel authorisation for visitors who do not require a visa to enter Britain.

The scheme, introduced in 2023 starting with Qatar and later extended to five Gulf neighbors, costs £10 ($12.50) and permits stays of up to six months at a time over two years. It has now been expanded to include citizens from approximately 50 additional countries and territories, such as Argentina, Brazil, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and several Caribbean nations.

These newly eligible travelers could start applying since last November, with the system taking effect for them on Wednesday.

The initiative, designed to enhance border security, is set to extend to dozens more EU and European countries and territories by April 2. Citizens from these regions can apply for the ETA -- which is digitally linked to their passport -- through an app starting March 5.

According to the UK government, around six million visitors from the United States, Canada, and Australia travel to Britain annually. Eligible travelers will need an ETA even for transit purposes, and this requirement applies to children and infants as well.

Conor Murphy, the economy minister for Northern Ireland, has expressed concerns that the ETA will have a "devastating" effect on tourism in Northern Ireland, noting that neighboring Ireland is not part of this scheme. Murphy fears the additional cost and bureaucracy may dissuade international tourists in the Republic of Ireland from traveling across the border to Northern Ireland. He has suggested a temporary exemption for visitors staying up to seven days.

Heathrow Airport in London has also criticized the scheme, arguing that its introduction has decreased the number of passengers transiting through the UK, which in turn makes the country less competitive and hinders economic growth.

The new requirement does not affect British and Irish citizens, those holding passports from British overseas territories, or legal UK residents. It also does not alter the visa requirements for visitors from countries like China, Ecuador, and South Africa, where a visa is mandatory to enter Britain.

Previously, most travelers not needing a visa could simply use their passport at UK immigration upon arrival.

This new UK entry scheme parallels the anticipated ETIAS system, intended for visa-exempt nationals traveling to 30 European countries, including France and Germany. ETIAS will cost seven euros ($7.40) and remain valid for three years. The European Commission expects this system to become operational by mid-year, applicable to around 60 countries, including the US, Canada, Brazil, and the UK.

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