Americans planning to travel to the UK will have to pay a fee to enter the country starting next year.
The county’s electronic travel authorization (ETA) fee will go into effect on January 8, 2025, according to Government of the United Kingdom.
American travellers will have to pay $13.05 (£10) to obtain the authorisation, which will be digitally linked to their passports.
The authorization will be valid for multiple trips over two years for stays of up to six months at a time, “or until the holder’s passport expires,” the government said.
U.S. citizens can apply for an ETA beginning November 27, 2024, and should expect a response within at least three business days. Each traveler must have their own ETA, including all children.
Americans planning to travel to the UK will be required to pay a $13.05 (£10) fee starting January 8, 2025 as part of the new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) program.
The authorization will be valid for multiple triple stays for two years for stays of up to six months at a time, “or until the holder’s passport expires” (pictured: Newark Liberty Airport file photo)
“Anyone wishing to travel to the UK, except British and Irish citizens, will need permission to travel before coming here,” the government said.
Seema Malhotra, the UK’s immigration and citizenship minister, said the new changes were part of a “global expansion” of the programme.
“ETA’s global expansion demonstrates our commitment to enhancing security through new technology and the incorporation of a modern immigration system,” Malhorta said.
“Digitisation enables a seamless experience for the millions of people who pass through the border every year, including the visitors we warmly welcome to the UK who are expected to contribute more than £32 billion to our tourism economy this year,” he added.
The country first introduced the ETA last year for visitors from seven Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The UK also plans to expand ETAs to other countries and territories, including Canada, Japan, Mexico and Australia.
Seema Malhotra (pictured in 2017), the UK’s immigration and citizenship minister, said the new changes were part of a “global expansion of ATS”.
Every traveller must have their own ETA to enter the UK, including all children. (pictured: London City Airport file photo)
In August, the European Union announced that Australian citizens would have to pay a new application fee of $11.50 to travel to the continent in 2025.
Previously, Australians could travel visa-free to this continent rich in history and culture, but that is no longer the case.
The programme starts in the first half of 2025.
This is all part of the new European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) program, which is a new entry requirement for visa-exempt citizens of 60 nations, including Australians.
ETIAS is a new travel authorization requirement for all Australians travelling to 30 countries in Europe.
The participating countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.