Posted on 03/31/2025 8:43:40 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
...the UK will introduce its Electronic Travel Authorisation system on January 8, 2025. It is a digital registration scheme for travelers who don’t need a visa to enter the UK...travelers will now need to get pre-travel authorization to fly to the UK. The pre-authorization clears you for entry to the country before travel. This is the UK equivalent of the United States’ ESTA — a mandatory, paid-for authorization to travel, with security clearance done in advance.
The scheme debuted to Gulf Cooperation Council nationals in 2024, and will roll out to other non-European travelers — including the six million travelers from the US, Canada and Australia who enter the UK each year.
Travelers from these countries will need an ETA to enter the UK from January 8. The only exception is EU citizens, who will need an ETA to enter the UK from April 2, 2025. Citizens of these countries who are already resident in the UK do not need an ETA.
The scheme is for “short” visits to the UK of less than six months for tourism and business. There are a few other categories of ETA, including for short-term study and permitted paid engagements. These are listed on the UK government website.
...it’s actually a visa waiver. Travelers whose citizenship means they need a visa to enter the UK will still need to apply for a visa.
Countries work on reciprocity when it comes to immigration. When the United States introduced its ESTA visa waiver in 2009, it was inevitable that countries now subject to it would introduce their own similar schemes.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Isn't it good that the UK government is paying such close attention to ordinary Americans traveling to the UK for short tourist visits? It's not like they have nothing else to worry about.
I posted this January 2025 article to make others aware of this new travel requirement to the UK.
“Isn’t it good that the UK government is paying such close attention to ordinary Americans traveling to the UK for short tourist visits? It’s not like they have nothing else to worry about.”
Article says 48 countries.
It tracks non-citizens not with a visa in their country.
EU starts that in 2026.
Isn’t it good that the UK government is paying such close attention to ordinary Americans traveling to the UK
How much?......................
AND, to top it off, it will arrest any UK citizens who complain about you arriving in that rubber dinghy.
We paid $13.45. Thank goodness it’s that cheap.
Tourism tariffs.
Might wanna watch this first...
https://x.com/BGatesIsaPyscho/status/1906279356084654120
Just a thought.
I’m not thrilled about going to the UK with all the crap that is going on there. In Ireland just yesterday, they froze (and stole) a teacher’s savings account at the bank because he refused to us some kid’s “preferred pronoun.” He refused on biblical principles, but the perverts have completely taken over and trounced religion.
The trip started when we were going to go along with our daughter’s business trip to the UK. I think her business was cancelled, but we kept the trip going. I’ll keep my mouth shut and just observe when I’m there.
My wife’s ancestry is Irish (red hair). I doubt we’ll see much of that anymore.
...and if, for whatever reason, you need to leave right now, you're screwed!
I’m so happy that I visited many European countries more than 20 years ago when Europe still seemed to be western civilization.
That’s only a extra,80,700,000 in revenue for the country.
You should have arrived in a rubber boat and you wouldn’t have been charged.
Their government would also get you a hotel room and meals for free.
Used to fly to and through Heathrow often over decades. Wanna get back your UK ETA "loose change?" Just have one less stout at the lounge. Or a croissant and coffee instead of the "full English breakfast."
Does this also apply to someone who just changes planes in England before flying to another country? Fortunately there are many other options for an American traveling to Europe.
My first passport should be arriving any week now.
The check cleared a while back.
No plans to go anywhere.
The process is easy, Peezy.
“The process is easy, Peezy.”
It must be. The first I heard about it is when I saw the Visa charge pop up on my alerts. My wife did it. She’s an excellent travel planner as is our eldest daughter.
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