UK, Italians will pay for a visa to enter: What is an ETA and when does it come into effect?

(ADNKRONOS) – European travellers visiting the UK without a visa will soon have to pay a £10 exemption fee: In effect, under new rules that come into effect next year, the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, first introduced for Qatari nationals, will be extended to travellers from all other countries, including EU nationals. Under plans announced by UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, the non-refundable levy will apply to all visitors to the UK, including infants and children, without a visa or residence permit, for work or study. Currently, citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates must apply for an Electronic Arrival Authorisation (ETA) before entering the UK. In November, the scheme will be extended to most other nationals, including Americans but excluding Europeans. By next spring, the program will be extended again to European citizens: specifically, Italians will be able to request an ETA starting from March 5, 2025 and it will be possible to use the electronic authorization starting from April 2, 2025. The Eta program will fill the gap of current prior authorizations and provide comprehensive knowledge for those traveling to the United Kingdom, he added in a statement. —internazionale/[email protected] (Web information)