From 8 January 2025, the ETA will apply to most international visitors. It will be extended to European travellers on 2 April 2025. The fee will be compulsory for all visitors, including children, unless they hold legal residency or work or study permits. Irish citizens will be exempt from this, while current rules state that travellers from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries such as Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia must apply for an ETA.
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According to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, the ETA scheme aims to reduce the gap in advance travel permissions and instead provide a detailed account of all travellers arriving in the UK. While the UK government believes the new requirement will strengthen security, concerns have been raised about its impact on tourism in general.
The ETA fee is likely to have a minor impact on most travellers, as it is similar to programmes such as the ESTA and ETIAS in the US and EU respectively. These initiatives have not negatively affected tourism there. However, Heathrow Airport has reported a decrease of 90,000 passengers on routes affected by the new rule, saying some travel could be deterred by the additional cost.
The UK is preparing to implement this prerequisite for travel and its long-term impact on the flow of tourists and passengers will be closely monitored. However, the UK government is confident that the ETA will help them strengthen border security without placing a heavy burden on new travellers.
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