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1 month ago
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Americans planning to travel to the United Kingdom will have to pay a fee to enter the country starting next year.
The county's electronic travel authorization (ETA) fee will go into effect on January 8, 2025, according to the UK government.
US travelers will have to pay $13.05 (£10) to obtain the authorization which will be digitally linked to passports.
The authorization will be valid for multiple trips over two years for stays up to six months at a time, 'or until the holder's passport expires,' the government said.
US citizens can apply for an ETA starting on November 27, 2024 and should expect a response within at least three business days. Each traveler is required to have their own ETA, including all children.
Americans planning to travel to the United Kingdom will have to pay a $13.05 (£10) fee starting January 8, 2025 as part of the new electronic travel authorization (ETA) program
The authorization will be valid for multiple triple over two years for stays up to six months at a time, 'or until the holder's passport expires' (pictured: File photo of Newark Liberty Airport)
'Everyone wishing to travel to the UK – except British and Irish citizens – will need permission to travel in advance of coming here,' according to the government.
Seema Malhotra, the United Kingdom's minister for migration and citizenship, said the new changes are part of a 'worldwide expansion' of the program.
'The worldwide expansion of the ETA demonstrates our commitment to enhance security through new technology and embedding a modern immigration system,' Malhorta said.
'Digitization enables a smooth experience for the millions of people who pass through the border every year, including the visitors we warmly welcome to the UK who are predicted to contribute over £32 billion to our tourism economy this year,' she added.
The country first introduced the ETA last year for visitors in seven Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates.
The UK also plans to expand ETAs to other countries and territories, including Canada, Japan, Mexico and Australia.
Seema Malhotra (pictured in 2017), the United Kingdom's minister for migration and citizenship, said the new changes are part of a 'worldwide expansion of the ETA'
Each traveler is required to have their own ETA to enter the UK, including all children. (pictured: File photo of London City Airport)
In August the European Union announced that Australian citizens would have to pay a new $11.50 application fee to travel to the continent in 2025.
Previously Australians could travel visa-free to the history and culture-rich continent, but that's not the case anymore.
The program starts in the first half of 2025.
It's all part of the new European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) program, which is a new entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals from 60 nations, including Australians.
ETIAS is a new travel authorization requirement for all Australians traveling to 30 countries within Europe.
The participating countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
English (US)