ETA now required for all EU citizens travelling to the UK

From this month, an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) will be required for all EU citizens travelling to the UK.

Decades of British tourism to Lanzarote means that there are several families of mixed nationality living on the island. Consisting of a British partner, a spouse from Spain or perhaps one of the several other nationalities on the island, and children of various nationalities, all of these families as well as most other non-Britons visiting the UK are likely to be affected by new travel rules.

That’s because from April 2nd, nationals of EU member countries, including Spain, will need to apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) costing £10 if they wish to visit the UK.

The UK government already introduced ETA requirements for non-EU nationals at the beginning of this year, and this will now be extended to EU nationals from April 2nd. The scheme is the British equivalent of the EU’s ETIAS scheme, which is due to be introduced at some point this year and will require all British visitors to the EU to pay a €7 fee.

The UK’s Home Office claims it is creating “a more streamlined, digital immigration system which will be quicker and more secure for the millions of people who pass through the UK border each year”. It continues “Everyone wishing to travel to the UK – except British and Irish citizens – will need permission to travel in advance of coming here. This can be either through an Electronic Travel Authorisation or an eVisa.”

The process is fairly simple and requires applicants to supply a photograph and answer a set of questions on “suitability and criminality”.

An ETA is required to enter the UK even if an EU citizen is married to a Briton, and will affect several families of mixed nationality on Lanzarote. Every person travelling, regardless of age, will require the ETA, which can be applied for via a downloadable app.

It seems that responsibility for checking the ETA status of visitors will fall upon travel companies such as airlines, who may be liable to a £2,000 fine for IDAs (incorrectly documented arrivals).

The ETA will be valid for six-month stays over a period of two years, after which it must be renewed. and although it currently costs 10, the UK government wishes to increase that to £16 soon, making it more than twice the price of the EU’s delayed ETIAS scheme.

Exempt from the ETA scheme are British and Irish citizens, those who already hold visas, those with permission to live, work or study in the UK and those who are changing flights in the UK and will not pass through border controls.

For full details go to: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-anelectronic-travel-authorisation-eta