Important information for anyone traveling from the USA to or through the UK on or after Jan. 8, 2025 (new UK ETA Visa requirement).

[sayhello]

A Travel Agent I know who posts on fb posted this information that she got from Tauck:

Additional information for those traveling to or through the UK beginning January 8. Instructions on applying for the UK ETA. Note that this applies to those entering the UK by land, air or sea so cruise ship passengers will also need to apply for this ETA.
Please note that ABD has not sent out any communication on this to date but I will hope they will soon since the policy will begin in about 6 weeks. Please be sure to review the information below. I will pin this post to the top of the group for ease of access going forward since this is a new policy.
Beginning on January 8, 2025 all travelers of any age visiting or transiting through the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) will be required to show documentation of a United Kingdom Electronic Travel Authorization (UK ETA). The UK ETA is an advance travel permission required from foreign nationals who intend to visit or transit through the United Kingdom. The exception are those traveling with their valid British or Irish passport/documentation.
This is a brand new policy to improve border security and to make the travel experience more efficient. We have the following details to share about the UK ETA process:
∙ Starting November 27, 2024 travelers can begin to apply via the official UK ETA website or mobile app. Authorization is linked to a valid travel document (i.e. passport), and a decision will usually be sent within 3 business days.
∙ The UK ETA will not be required if you are departing the USA on the evening of January 7, 2025 and arriving in the UK on morning of January 8, 2025. The UK ETA will only be required boarding a carrier from January 8, 2025 onwards.
∙ To apply please go to the UK ETA website or mobile app:
○ Website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta
○ Mobile device app for apple users: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/uk-eta/id6444912481
○ Mobile device app for android users:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details...
∙ The application process will ask you to:
○ Take or upload a photo of the passport you will use to enter the United Kingdom.
○ If you are applying via the mobile app, and your passport has a biometric chip (usually located on the back cover of USA passports), you will be asked to scan that chip. You will hear a beep when the biometric chip has been successfully read. If you get a repeated error message, you can skip this step.
○ Scan your face with your device if it has a camera, Face scans will not be required of children aged 9 and under.
○ Take or upload a photo of yourself. The photo must include your head and shoulders against a plain background and there should be nothing covering your face and eyes. Head coverings should only be worn for religious reasons.
○ Confirm your identity and provide your email address.
○ Pay a fee of GBP 10 per person (for all ages), payable via credit card, debit card, Google Pay or Apple Pay.
∙ In applying for the UK ETA, you do not need to provide details of your travel plans.
∙ You will need to complete your application in one sitting. You cannot save your progress and return to the application later.
∙ If you do not do anything for 20 minutes, the service will time out. Your answers will be deleted and you will need to start again.
∙ Once completed, an email confirming the approval of the UK ETA will be sent and the UK ETA will be linked to the passport you applied with (if you get a new passport within the 2 year validity of the UK ETA you will need to get a new UK ETA). We suggest you print or keep a record of your confirmation email but it is not necessary to show any papers.
∙ The UK ETA will be valid for multiple journeys over 2 years or until expiration of the associated travel document (your passport), whichever is sooner.
∙ You still need to pass through Customs to enter the United Kingdom, and the UK ETA does not guarantee entry.
Please be sure to take the time to apply for the UK ETA, beginning November 27, 2024 and print out the confirmation to bring with you on your trip.
I'm sure you’ll agree that this minor inconvenience is a small price to pay in order to experience the many wonders of visiting the United Kingdom.

I hope this helps. To my knowledge, ABD hasn't sent this info out yet. It may also apply to people traveling from other countries besides the USA.

ETA: This post ONLY applies to the ETA for the UK. I'm going to start a separate thread for the ETIAS for the EU, as the rules and timeframes are very different.

Separate thread for the EU ETIAS:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/s...rom-the-uk-eta-no-effective-date-yet.3960901/

NOTE! These are Travel Authorizations, NOT Visas. MUCH simpler and cheaper to get.

Sayhello

 

[Doingitagain]

There is also a new requirement for Europe — European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) -- it appears that it will start in Spring 2025.

 

[AquaDame]

A Travel Agent I know who posts on fb posted this information that she got from Tauck:



I hope this helps. To my knowledge, ABD hasn't sent this info out yet. It may also apply to people traveling from other countries besides the USA.

Sayhello

Oh it very much does... some countries already have to have it.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-when-you-can-get-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

I think a lot of folk will be tripped up by this one as it counts even if you are TRANSITING through the UK; you need it for any kind of layover at all.

 

[sayhello]

Oh it very much does... some countries already have to have it.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-when-you-can-get-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

I think a lot of folk will be tripped up by this one as it counts even if you are TRANSITING through the UK; you need it for any kind of layover at all.

What would really worry me is if I'm flying somewhere, and the airline *changes* my flight to transit through the UK, where originally I wasn't. What happens then?

But then again, it was crazy the number of people who didn't know you need an NZeTA to go to New Zealand! While I was waiting for my flight at SFO, they kept calling people to the podium, and it turns out they were having people apply for it right then and there! They were SO lucky Air New Zealand did that for them!

Sayhello

 

[SirDuff]

The transiting thing is weird as, having done it a number of times, you don't go through any sort of passport control if doing an international-to-international connection. Either they are adding a check (possibly at the security check) or they are counting on airlines checking before boarding passengers. Though, actually, other countries already need an eTA, so I guess they have the check system already in place (and, I just realized it's been about two years since I've connected there, so my memory is somewhat old).

 

[Donalyn]

Funny - the EU version of this is getting lots of press (each time that they push off the effective date, for instance), but this - I haven't heard a thing about it.

Also, odd with transitioning within Europe.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

This sounds a lot like the process that is required for a visa for entry to Bali. It sounds more complicated than it is -- took me a few mins to complete and I had my visa instantaneously. Hopefully the UK visas will be quick arriving, esp if people are re-routed to the UK as @sayhello mentions.

 

[sayhello]

This sounds a lot like the process that is required for a visa for entry to Bali. It sounds more complicated than it is -- took me a few mins to complete and I had my visa instantaneously. Hopefully the UK visas will be quick arriving, esp if people are re-routed to the UK as @sayhello mentions.

It sounds pretty similar to the NZeTA process for New Zealand, also. I also got that almost immediately (less than a minute later) but I have heard of some responses/approvals being delayed almost 24 hours. So you never know.

Sayhello

 

[SirDuff]

It sounds pretty similar to the NZeTA process for New Zealand, also. I also got that almost immediately (less than a minute later) but I have heard of some responses/approvals being delayed almost 24 hours. So you never know.

Sayhello

Same with Australia (though it took me a bit to realise that I had to angle my phone (so the top of the phone hit the passport) when scanning the passport). My query for the UK is more about what happens at the airport for transiting passengers

 

[Woodview]

The transiting thing is weird as, having done it a number of times, you don't go through any sort of passport control if doing an international-to-international connection. Either they are adding a check (possibly at the security check) or they are counting on airlines checking before boarding passengers. Though, actually, other countries already need an eTA, so I guess they have the check system already in place (and, I just realized it's been about two years since I've connected there, so my memory is somewhat old)

If you fly from USA to UK you will need it And if you stay in London

for a few days And then take the train to France you will need the European

one UNLESS you happen to Have an Irish Passport

 

[Momtastic]

Thank you for posting this as it will impact our ABD England and France trip. Mildly annoying that there is yet another fee to pay and hoop to jump through. Does anyone know yet if the ETIAS one that will be required for France is also an extra fee?

 

[sayhello]

Thank you for posting this as it will impact our ABD England and France trip. Mildly annoying that there is yet another fee to pay and hoop to jump through. Does anyone know yet if the ETIAS one that will be required for France is also an extra fee?

I can't find anything with a firm date as to when the ETIAS will be required to enter France. Just "expected to be Q2 2025". So I'd count on having to take care of that. Once it is in effect, you will definitely need an ETIAS for France in addition to the ETA for England. While it does suck, at least neither is expensive (£10 for the ETA, and €7 for the ETIAS). It appears the ETIAS charge is for people between the ages of 18 and 70.

Sayhello

 

[Momtastic]

I can't find anything with a firm date as to when the ETIAS will be required to enter France. Just "expected to be Q2 2025". So I'd count on having to take care of that. Once it is in effect, you will definitely need an ETIAS for France in addition to the ETA for England. While it does suck, at least neither is expensive (£10 for the ETA, and €7 for the ETIAS). It appears the ETIAS charge is for people between the ages of 18 and 70.

Sayhello

That’s very helpful, thanks. Unlike the ETIAS, it does appear the ETA applies to all travelers including children. In case anyone was wondering.

 

[sayhello]

That’s very helpful, thanks. Unlike the ETIAS, it does appear the ETA applies to all travelers including children. In case anyone was wondering.

That was the impression I got, also.

Sayhello

 

[Donalyn]

I mean, if we are talking about ADB trips, these prices are just a drop in the bucket. The bigger issue is really just the hassle factor to do it for your travel group. (And then the poor people who don't realize that they had to do this in advance.)

 

[Woodview]

We have been doing this ESTA for years when travelling
to USA & Canada ....... No big deal

 

[Momtastic]

I mean, if we are talking about ADB trips, these prices are just a drop in the bucket. The bigger issue is really just the hassle factor to do it for your travel group. (And then the poor people who don't realize that they had to do this in advance.)

Agree. The price isn’t really the issue, it’s a mild annoyance at most. I don't know how quickly the EAITS will approval be, but I was surprised at how was ridiculously fast the ETA approval was for our group. Although it says it takes up to three days, everyone was approved within five minutes of submitting the application. Which may be a good omen for those unfortunate souls who don’t hear about the requirement until the day of their trip.
Your mileage may vary.

 

[sayhello]

Agree. The price isn’t really the issue, it’s a mild annoyance at most. I don't know how quickly the EAITS will approval be, but I was surprised at how was ridiculously fast the ETA approval was for our group. Although it says it takes up to three days, everyone was approved within five minutes of submitting the application. Which may be a good omen for those unfortunate souls who don’t hear about the requirement until the day of their trip.
Your mileage may vary.

The same was true for the NzETA for New Zealand. I got the response in like 2 minutes!

Air New Zealand actually called people up to the podium while we were waiting for our flight. They were having people who didn't know about the NzETA apply & pay for it right then and there. That was nice of them to do! I was surprised at how many people it was.

Sayhello

 

[aggiedog]

That was nice of them to do! I was surprised at how many people it was.

I'm pretty sure they could not have got on the flight without it? I've seen people turned away from flights because they didn't have the right visa, etc, for countries that do not have these fast electronic systems (which are nice, I admit.)

My daughter was almost not allowed on her flight to Korea (smack in the thick of the pandemic) because she did not have covid test results (needed to be less than 2 days old) that was not ALSO translated into Korean. I mean?? How was THAT supposed to happen??

Sorry, a tangent.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Its interesting seeing all the Americans on here and other places online getting into a fluff about this. The American Government has required ESTA for Europeans and other countries since 2008 and before that we had to fill out a paper form on the plane which was stamped at passport check.

With the ESTA, its linked to your passport and you can not check in for a flight to America or a cruise arriving at an American port or a cruise departing from an American port without it.

If a person forgets or does not know about needing an ESTA it can be done during the check in process as it usually only takes a few minutes to be approved.

There are conditions with the ESTA like not looking for work or being employed with in America.

Im sure the new systems for American tourists in Europe will be very similar. Its really no big deal.