You’ll need an ETA – and Electronic Travel Authorization – even if you’re just transiting London! How Soon? Starting January 8, 2025!

The UK requirement is scheduled for the first week of 2025, but for the European Union, the ETIAS Authorization System is expected to be enforced some time during the second quarter. The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) has been delayed multiple times but should become operational before June of this year. Keep an eye on this space for more information about EU travel.

UK Electronic Travel Authorization

The United Kingdom ETA is relatively easy to get, but don’t wait until the last minute. As soon as you know you will be traveling, you should start the process using your smartphone. Search your Phone Store and download the “UK ETA” website, with its cute little “Crown” Emoji.

To register, you’ll need your passport and a credit card. Once you’ve downloaded the app, the instructions are pretty straight forward. You’ll enter some basic information about your full name, your residence, and then you’ll need to scan the passport information page. (It’s a little tricky to do, as glare from overhead lights may result in multiple instructions to re-scan). You’ll also need to do a scan of your face within the outline provided; I had to re-scan because apparently my eyes weren’t open enough. Finally, you’ll be instructed to take a photograph up against a neutral background (again, expect several instructions to retake your photo).

If you’re one of the people who doesn’t like to leave digital footprints, you may be out of luck if you want to enter the UK Automated booths have been set at the border at Heathrow for nearly a year, and residents of many countries are now forced to use these booths.

Finally, you’ll be instructed to pay a fee of 10 UK Pounds ($13.08 as of last week when I got my ETA). As soon as the payment was acknowledged, I received an email indicating my application was pending. Less than 10 minutes later, my ETA had been issued. One of our clients had his ETA issued in less than a minute.

ETAs are good for up to two years, or until your passport expires.

You won’t need to get a new ETA every time you touch the UK – in fact, the ETA is permanently attached to your Passport Number. There’s no need to carry a copy of the ETA – although I’d keep a photograph on hand just in case the UK’s immigration system goes down.

That’s all there is to the UK System. We’re still waiting for information about the EU system, but we know dozens of machines have already been installed across a variety of countries as the system should be operational soon.

Joe snd Rob Lipman

Summit Management Services

#JoeKnows #Robknows #MartyKnows