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The latest on the UK Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
While the eTA does not change the status of countries that enter UK without a visa, such as Caribbean, but it is an essential pre-travel measure.
By April this year, and when it will be applied to the last category (Europeans), all nationalities will be required to obtain an eTA when they intend to enter the UK, which includes England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The UK eTA can be said to act as a thin layer of security for countries that enter the UK without a visa, on the same principle as the US Electronic Travel Authorization (eSTA) and the European Electronic Travel Authorization (eTIAS).
Introduction to the eTA
The eTA is simply an electronic authorization to travel to the UK and cannot be called a visa to enter the UK. It was created with the aim of preventing people who might pose a threat to the UK from entering, similar to the US, Australia and many other countries authorization.
You can get an eTA quickly and easily on the GOV.UK website. The eTA costs £10, or about $13, and allows multiple trips to the UK and stays of up to six months per visit for two years or until the person’s passport expires, whichever comes first.
After a traveler has provided their details and their answers are taken into account when applying for an eTA, officials will be able to assess travelers and then block those who may pose a threat. Those who are refused permission will have to apply for a visa instead.
What’s the latest on eTA as 2025 rolls around?
~ GCC
The UK government has made improvements to the eTA to make it a more streamlined, faster and secure electronic process for all travelers to or through the UK for any purpose, provided they are from countries whose citizens do not require a visa or who do not have any legal status to live in the UK.
For Europeans hoping to enter the UK after April 2, 2025, they will need to obtain this permission to be allowed to enter the UK and will be able to start applying for an electronic travel authorization from March 5.
As of January 8, US citizens, Canadians and many other nationalities have already started entering with this permission if they are visiting the UK for tourism, business or a short stay. It is worth noting that the electronic travel authorization known as an ETA is very similar to the US electronic travel authorization known as an ESTA which is currently in operation, and the ETIAS permit, which European countries are supposed to implement soon.
By April, after the permission is applied to European citizens, it will have been applied to all nationalities that do not require a visa to enter the UK, including GCC countries, Americans and some non-European countries.
Application mechanism and steps to obtain an eTA
Those interested can find out details and information about who and how to obtain a British electronic travel authorization by visiting the official website GOV.UK and at the same time they can apply for this authorization from this website. As for smartphone owners, they can download the UK ETA application from the Apple Store or Google Play and then apply through it.
The application mechanism is simple and quick, as the response is within a few minutes, which means that sudden trips are still possible. However, it is recommended to take 3 days into consideration before planning to travel to Britain, although there are very few cases that may take longer than that. All individuals will be required to obtain an authorization, even infants.
Applicants for an electronic travel authorization will be asked to provide preferred contact details and information about the passport they intend to travel with and upload electronic photos, and then they must answer some questions and pay the fee.
Anyone who uses Britain to transit through its airports will be exempt from this authorization, unlike those who use Britain as a border crossing, as they will be required to do so. Diplomatic and government officials are also exempt from this license if their visit is diplomatic and not for pleasure.
Traveling to the UK through Citizenship by Investment
For those who want to come to the UK to work or live and benefit from the world’s best education and healthcare system, obtaining a second citizenship from a country that enters the UK without a visa may be the best and most convenient solution available.
It is not easy to obtain a citizenship that allows you to enter the UK without a visa, and at the same time offers an investment citizenship program, imagine countries the size of China and India that require a visa to enter the UK.
Among the citizenship by investment programs that allow their citizens to enter the UK without a visa are programs such as Saint Kitts and Nevis citizenship, Saint Lucia citizenship, Grenada citizenship, and Antigua and Barbuda citizenship. These four nationalities are required to obtain an eTA from January 2025, like the rest of the nationalities that enter the UK without a visa.
These citizenship programs not only help you enter the UK without a visa, but also China, Canada, all Schengen countries, and more than 100 other countries without a visa. Also, not only do they offer benefits in terms of entry into the country, but they are also countries with a light tax system, their own reliable citizenship program, no residency requirement before or after obtaining citizenship from these countries, and many useful points that help individual entrepreneurs and families alike.
Read our articles about citizenship via investment programs and learn more about the countries that offer this type of program. You can also consult us if you need any assistance regarding the UK ETA or one of the programs that offer second citizenship programs.
About Author
Taher Shehab
As co-founder and CEO, Taher Shehab has guided Global Citizen Consultants to be a leader in providing citizenship by investment in over 20 territories, including the Caribbean.
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