European travellers visiting the UK without a visa will soon be required to pay a £10 (approximately $13) waiver fee under new rules set to take effect next year.
The UK’s electronic travel authorization (ETA) system, initially introduced for Qatar nationals, will be expanded to include travellers from all countries, including European Union citizens.
The non-refundable fee will apply to all visitors, including infants and children, who do not hold a visa or permission to live, work, or study in the UK, according to plans announced by UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. Irish citizens will be exempt from the new requirement.
Currently, nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are required to apply for an ETA before entering the UK. Starting in November, this requirement will be extended to include most other nationalities, including US citizens, with Europeans joining the programme by next spring.
“Once fully rolled out, the ETA scheme will close the current gap in advance permissions and mean that for the first time, we will have a comprehensive understanding of those travelling to the UK,” Cooper said.
The new ETA scheme is similar to existing visa waiver programs, such as the US ESTA, which costs $21 and is valid for two years, and the European Union’s upcoming ETIAS, set to launch in 2025 with a fee of 7 euros (about $7.50) for a three-year validity.
Meanwhile, Jordanian nationals are no longer eligible to apply for an ETA to enter the UK, according to the government website.
