ETA is the abbreviation for “Electronic Travel Authoriation”. ETIAS is the abbreviation for “European Travel Information and Authorization System”.Residents of the USA and Canada, among others, must use the ETA process from the beginning of 2025. Applications from the EU will be accepted online from March 5, 2025. The ETA process provides an exemption from the visa requirement.Anyone who was previously subject to a visa requirement or otherwise had an entry permit can continue to use it.The system is similar to the ESTA system in the US.

The ETA authorisation should be applied for well in advance. The link is: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta . The authorisation should be granted within 72 hours of the application, but it may take longer. Once the ETA is approved, visitors are given permission to stay in the UK for six months, whether for business or tourism. The ETA is valid for two years and allows multiple entries into the UK during that period. An ETA costs £10 per person (approximately €11.85), and the fee applies to all travelers, including babies and children.A valid passport is required for the authorisation, an email address for registration, and a valid bank or credit card for applying for the fees.

The EU ETIAS digital travel application costs just seven euros. This authorisation (“Visa Waiver”) is linked to the traveler’s passport and is valid for three years or until the passport expires. Children under 18 and adults over 70 are exempt from the fee, but must still apply for an authorisation. The ETIA process will begin six months after the introduction of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) in 2025. This schedule is part of a larger plan to update and strengthen EU border controls. Information is provided at the link: https://etias.com/etias-application .

Hermann Schmidtendorf, Editor-in-Chief