Big changes are coming for those who want to travel to UK, as a special electronic travel permit will now be required.
Citizens of around 50 countries, including the US, Canada and Australia , who want to enter Britain will now be required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), a measure which from April will apply to EU citizens, including Greeks.
The measure came into force today and, like the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) implemented by the US, is intended to enhance security at Britain’s borders.
Before travelling to Britain, travellers will have to fill in a declaration online or via the UK ETA app, in which they will provide details of their identity and answer a series of questions, including on security issues.
Within three days the UK authorities will decide whether to allow the applicant to enter the country.
The ETA, which will cost £10 (€12) to issue, will be valid for two years but will need to be renewed if the passport is changed.
The ETA allows the holder to stay in Britain for a maximum of six months and allows a certain number of entries into the country during the two years it is valid. In addition, even travellers transiting through Britain will be required to issue this permit.
This system, which applies to citizens of countries who are not required to issue a visa to visit Britain, already applied to citizens of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
It has now been extended to cover citizens of 48 countries and territories, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Brazil, Canada, South Korea, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the United States, Hong Kong and New Zealand.
UK: The ETA will be required for Greeks from 2 April
From 2 April, the ETA will also be required for citizens of around 30 European countries, including citizens of all EU countries except Ireland.
Applications to obtain this permit will be accepted from 5 March.
Issuance of this permit is compulsory for both children and infants.
The measure is part of the UK government’s efforts to digitise its system for managing the country’s borders.
The UK Home Office said that the permit system to enter the country would guarantee “more stringent security checks”.
But Heathrow Airport officials have already assessed that the new system will be “devastating to competition”, noting that ETA has reduced the number of travellers arriving in Britain from Gulf countries.
At least 6 million US, Canadian and Australian citizens visit Britain every year, according to the Home Office.
In total in 2023 Britain welcomed 38 million visitors, according to Visit Britain.
The EU plans to adopt a similar system in mid-2025, with ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System), which will be valid for three years and cost €7. It will apply to citizens of around 60 countries, including the US, Canada, Britain and Brazil.
