Visitors to the UK from 48 countries must now apply and pay a fee before travel
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If 2024 was the year travelers were spared the introduction of bureaucracy for visa-free travel to Europe, 2025 is the year reality kicks in.
From CNN, the European Union’s ETIAS visa waiver, much delayed, is currently on track to roll out in 2025.
Anyone who doesn’t need a visa to travel to the UK will soon need an ETA — an “electronic travel authorization” which pre-clears you for entry to the country before travel. This is the UK equivalent of the United States’ ESTA — a mandatory, paid-for authorization to travel, with security clearance done in advance.
Travelers from these countries will need an ETA to enter the UK from January 8. The only exception is EU citizens, who will need an ETA to enter the UK from April 2, 2025.