Visitors to the UK will soon need a €12 visa waiver. Here’s how to avoid ETA scams
The UK’s Digital Journey Authorisation (ETA) system has formally expanded to European travellers. Beginning 2 April 2025, EU (besides Irish nationals), EEA, and Swiss residents will want ETA approval to enter the UK.
The system turned obligatory for travellers from the US, Canada and Australia on 8 January 2025, following its rollout final November for nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
To acquire the visa waiver, which prices £10 (€12), travellers want to finish an internet course of. Sadly, there are already studies of rip-off web sites providing to help with paperwork.
Right here’s what to be careful for to keep away from paying greater than it is advisable to.
How you can apply for the UK’s ETA visa waiver
The ETA replaces the single-use Digital Visa Waiver (EVW) scheme, providing a decrease value possibility with multi-entry validity.
The UK authorities says its cellular app is the quickest and best method to apply for an ETA. You possibly can obtain the ETA app from the UK authorities web site.
If you happen to can’t obtain the app, you may also apply on-line right here.
To finish the applying, be sure to have readily available the passport you may be travelling on, an electronic mail tackle and a bank card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. You’ll have to reply a set of suitability questions. You need not enter your journey particulars.
The federal government advises making use of a minimum of three working days earlier than your journey.
You possibly can delete the app once you’ve completed making use of. Your ETA will probably be linked to your passport digitally, and you’ll not want to point out the rest once you enter the UK.
Be careful for ETA visa waiver rip-off web sites
The above strategies are the one safe and bonafide methods to apply for the ETA.
There are not any exterior or third-party web sites which are authorised by the UK authorities to course of the visa waiver.
These websites will merely full the applying for you through the official channels whereas charging you additional for his or her companies.
Remember that a few of these websites seem above the federal government web site (www.gov.uk) on Google searches.
It’s the traveller’s particular person duty to use for the ETA earlier than arriving within the UK so you’ll not obtain reminders from the UK authorities. If you happen to obtain emails or textual content messages prompting you to use, these is not going to be respectable.
