Visitors coming into the UK must pay £10 starting Wednesday as the new Electronic Travel Authorisation system is rolled out. The fee, which will rise to £16 from April 9, mirrors the ESTA system used in the United States and is mandatory for all European visitors from April 2.

The UK government began rolling out the ETA system in January for US, Canadian, and other visa-exempt nationals and expanded it to European travellers this month. The scheme is part of the UK’s push to digitise its immigration system and create a more streamlined border experience.

"By digitising the immigration system, we are paving the way for a contactless UK border," said Migration Minister Seema Malhotra. Expanding ETA worldwide cements our commitment to enhance security through technology and innovation."

The ETA allows visits of up to six months and remains valid for two years. All travellers, including minors and infants, will need to apply.

The application process, which can be completed via a smartphone app or the UK Government website, requires a passport photo and a facial scan and takes about 10 minutes to complete.

While most applications are approved within minutes, the Home Office advises allowing up to three working days for processing. If approved, the ETA is digitally linked to the traveller’s passport.

From April 2, nationals of around 30 European countries, including all European Union nations except Ireland, must obtain an ETA before travelling to the UK.

Those simply transiting airside without crossing the UK border are exempt from the requirement.

This exemption was introduced following lobbying from Heathrow Airport, which feared a drop in international transit passengers.

Currently, only Heathrow and Manchester airports provide airside transit facilities in the UK. The UK first introduced the ETA scheme in 2023 for Qatari nationals and later extended it to five other Gulf nations.

In January 2024, the system was expanded to include nationals from approximately 50 additional countries, such as Argentina, South Korea and New Zealand.

By the end of 2024, nearly 1.1 million visitors had been issued ETAs, according to the Home Office.

The ETA system is not applicable to UK residents or individuals who already have a UK immigration status.

It closely resembles the upcoming ETIAS system for visa-exempt nationals travelling to 30 European countries, including France and Germany.

However, the ETIAS rollout has been delayed until 2026.