ETA, ETIAS, etc.

We just finished applying for the UK's new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Starting this year, anyone traveling to the UK from the United States (or many other countries) needs to get one of these before entering the UK. It allows you to stay in the UK for up to six consecutive months, and is good for two years. It costs 10 GBP, which today was equal to $13.11. 

To apply for an ETA, head to 
apply-for-an-eta.homeoffice.gov.uk/apply/electronic-travel-authorisation/easier-on-the-app  

They really want you to use their app, rather than do it through your browser, but both methods work quite easily. (I tried both, since Adam and I both needed an ETA). To apply, you'll need your passport handy—make sure it's the passport you'll be using to enter the UK. If you're going to get a new passport before you travel, wait to fill this out until after you've received it. You'll also need a recent picture of yourself from the shoulders up, with a white background—but not the picture used in your passport. You could also just take a selfie within the process. 

The application didn't take me more than 10 minutes to fill out. You'll start by entering your email address, then you'll upload a photo of your passport, and the application will scan it and pull the info out for you to double-check. You'll get a scan of your face to make sure you're the person in the photo, then enter your phone number, address, and profession, then answer a few questions (like, for example "have you committed any war crimes?"). You'll then be directed to pay the fee.

Once the fee is paid, you'll get an email with a confirmation that your application is in process. It will say it could take up to 3 business days, and occasionally will take longer. It gives you a date to contact them, if you haven't heard back. 

We then got our approval email... about two minutes later. So, definitely within the three-day limit. :-) 

The good news is you don't have to do anything with this email, like print it or show it when arriving in the UK. Your passport info will be saved in their system, so as long as you are using the same passport to enter the country that you used in your application, you won't have to do anything else. (I'd still save the email, though, rather than deleting it.)

That's it! Pretty easy! Your ETA will be good for two years.

One more note: If you google "UK ETA" you'll get the official site, but you'll also get several other sites, which might be out-and-out scams, or might be services that charge you money to do it for you. Make sure you are on the official site (an easy check: make sure it's a gov.uk domain).

Now, about the ETIAS, which is the EU's version of this. Though it was originally supposed to be rolled out in early 2025, that has been pushed back to fall 2025 at the earliest. We'll keep an eye on the process and will notify any clients of ours traveling to the EU when it is launched. It will be a very similar process to the one described above (though slightly less expensive—7 euros—and good for three years instead of two).