EU citizens traveling to the UK without a visa will soon be required to pay a €11 fee and apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).

Although the UK introduced the ETA system last year, it has only applied to select nationalities so far.

To enhance security measures and prevent immigration system abuse, the UK government is now extending the ETA requirement to include EU citizens and nationals from several other non-EU countries.

According to the UK Home Office, citizens of the EU will be eligible to apply for an ETA from March 5, 2025, and they will need the document to travel to the UK from April 2, 2025.

ETAs will extend to eligible Europeans from March 5, 2025, who will need an ETA to travel from April 2, 2025.
--UK Home Office

All EU citizens, including children, will be required to apply for an ETA

The cost will be applied to all EU citizens, including infants and children, who do not require a visa or authorisation to enter the country in order to work, reside, or pursue education, as stated by UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Cooper stressed once more how the plan will eliminate the need for prior authorisation and give the government a thorough picture of everyone who enters its jurisdiction.

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.
--UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper

The ETA will be issued within three days of application, and the document will remain valid for a period of two years. During this two-year period, the ETA holders will be able to travel to the UK as many times as they want, provided that they do not stay for longer than 60 days without returning to their home country.

The EU will also introduce a similar scheme in spring 2025

Visa waiver schemes are not a new thing. The US already has in place this requirement for some groups of travellers, and the EU is expected to introduce a similar scheme next year.

The EU will introduce the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) in spring 2025.

Once the ETIAS is launched, all travellers from third countries who do not need a visa to enter the EU will be required to apply for the document before the trip.

The ETIAS will be valid for three years, and it will cost €7. The applications for the ETIAS will be made online and the document will be linked to the applicants’ passports.