UK will require electronic authorization for tourists – 06/15/2023 – Tourism

Tourists with plans to visit the United Kingdom should pay attention to a new requirement: from November 15, it will be necessary to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA, Electronic Travel Authorization) to enter the country. Initially, this measure will be mandatory for citizens of Qatar and, in 2024, it will include other countries – such as Brazil.

The second phase of implementation begins in February 2024, when the document will only be required for citizens of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. There is still no forecast date for Brazilians to be included in the determination.

Costing ten pounds sterling (approximately BRL 60), the ETA will be required for trips of up to six months for work or tourism. It will also be mandatory to obtain the document in case of transit through the United Kingdom, such as on flights with connections, for example.

The ETA will be linked to the passport with which the traveler applied. The authorization will last for two years — if the passport expires before that period, you will need to obtain a new ETA. Each traveler, including babies and children of any age, must obtain their own document.

For more information, you can consult the UK ETA application or the official UK government website. The application process takes an average of three business days. When the application is approved, the applicant receives confirmation by email —the ETA will be electronically linked to the passport.

Just as visas work, the document does not guarantee entry into the United Kingdom. Immigration agents at ports and airports can deny the access of any foreign citizen to the country.