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The United Kingdom will begin levying a small entrance fee on tourists starting in the following year, 2024. The UK government this week confirmed the dates for the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which will cost £10 (or $12.50) and will be valid for 2 years. Travelers will need to enter their passport information on the official app or website to obtain it.
Visa waiver programs have been in existence for a longer time:
Since 2009, the US has charged visitors for electronic travel authorizations (ETA); currently, the UK and the EU are implementing entry fees as well.
The two-year $21 ESTA is currently available in the United States, while the 7-euro ETIAS will be available in Europe starting in 2024.
The scheme is expected to be implemented for those who don't need visas to enter the UK, including citizens of the US and EU, and by 2024, Qatar will be the first country to join such a scheme.
The island nation of the Maldives charges visitors an arrival fee of $6 but reduces it to $3 for those who choose to stay in an eco-friendly guesthouse as it currently deals with rising sea levels and erosion.
And it is to be noted that there are many countries in the world who has these ETA schemes for a certain group of people and now the United Kingdom joined as one of those countries.
Who needs it?
The ETA is electronically linked to one's passport and is only required for short-term travel or those entering the country for tourism purposes. People who need a long-term visa must pay the regular visa fee.
Qataris must apply for an ETA starting on November 15, 2023, while Gulf travelers from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates must do so beginning on February 22, 2024.
Who doesn't needs it?
But not all travelers are subject to the new expense. British and Irish passport holders are exempt from needing the ETA. Additionally, the recently announced criteria do not apply to anyone who already has permission to enter the UK or who has visas that allow them to work, live, or study there.
On top of that, according to the UK government website, anyone who are legally residing in Ireland and does not require a visa to visit the UK will not need an Electronic Travel Authorization if entering the United Kingdom from either Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, or the Isle of Man.
