This is breaking news!! Well, it’s not breaking news. From now on, American Citizens will have to do some things to visit/transit the United Kingdom.

What is it

It is called the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), and it is in full effect as I write this blog post. I know I am late to the game, but here I am telling you about it. Here is a breakdown of what this ETA is about.

• New Necessity: US citizens need an ETA for short visits to the UK, including Northern Ireland. They don’t need an ETA if they have a UK visa, and legal residency in the UK or the Republic of Ireland also exempts them from needing one.
• ETA Purpose: The ETA acts as a pre-clearance for travel. It is part of the UK’s move towards a digital border system.
• Application: You can apply for an ETA online via the UK ETA mobile app or website.
• What you need to apply: You’ll need your passport, access to your emails, and a payment method. 
• Validity: The ETA is linked to your passport and allows multiple visits to the UK for up to 6 months over a 2 year period.
• Epassport Gates: U.S. passport holders can use ePassport Gates when arriving in the UK. 
• UKVisa: If you plan to stay longer than 6 months or work in the UK, you’ll need a visa, and you should not obtain an ETA. 
• exemptions: You do not need an ETA if you already have a UK visa, an exempt vignette, or have a British or Irish passport.
• Transit: Visitors who transit through the UK by crossing the UK border need an ETA, if required for their nationality.
• Fee: The ETA fee is currently around $13, but it will increase to $20 on April 9, 2025.

Passing Through

Now, there is conflicting information about passing through.

Yes, even if you are flying into the UK to catch another flight out of the UK. I am flying to Rome, but I land in London. I must be at Heathrow airport to catch a connecting flight to Rome. I have to have one. It is kind of stupid, in my opinion, but it is what it is.

However, this website says the following:

Passing through a UK airport while traveling to another country is called ‘transiting’, but some travelers call it a ‘layover’.

There are two types of transiting:

• ‘airside’ – you do not pass through UK border control before you leave on your connecting journey
• ‘landside’ – you do pass through UK border control, but come back through it and leave the UK within a short amount of time (usually 24 hours)

Some Facts

• It may take up to three working days to process
• Costs $20, starting April 9, 2025
• Is required for travelers of all ages
• It is valid for two years or the remaining period of validity on a passport. Whichever is shorter
• Does not require travel details

Who doesn’t need one

If you have one of the following, then you don’t need one.

• You have a visa
• You have permission to live, work or study in the UK (including settled or pre-settled status or right of abode)
• You are transiting through a UK airport, and you will not cross the border control check. If you are unsure, check with your airline.
• You are a British or Irish citizen
• You are traveling with a British overseas territories citizen passport
• You are traveling with a British National (Overseas) passport
• You live in Ireland and you are traveling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
• You are exempt from immigration control
• You are exempt from obtaining permission to enter: Certain seafarers, and crew members of a ship, an aircraft of international rail.
• If you are a dual citizen with British or Irish Citizenship.

You can check out this website

All I Need

Getting this doesn’t mean you are allowed into the UK. All it means is that you can enter the UK. However, you will still need to go through the Border patrol or use an ePassport gate.

If you have a criminal record, you may have to apply for a standard visitor visa.

Thoughts

As the world moves more digitally, all they have to do is scan your passport and have the information they need. I guess there will be no more stamps in your passports. That’s just the way the world is going. There are just more things you have to make sure you do while you are traveling.

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