Think Bermuda’s electronic travel authorization form is a pain? By later this year, you’ll probably also need one to enter the UK. And travel advisors, of course, will have one more thing to track.
It’s all part of the UK’s plan to digitalize its borders by 2025. Sometime this quarter, the country will require all visitors—including Americans—to apply for an ETA, provide personal data and ante up an as-yet-undetermined fee, likely between £5 and £20.
Travelers will need to complete the online application form with contact information, biometric data and travel plans. After being checked against various databases, they should receive their ETA within 48 to 72 hours.
While they still will have to go through immigration upon arrival, the process should be much quicker with everyone vetted in advance.
The European Union is introducing its own version of an electronic authorization form, known as ETIAS, later this year. The US and Canada already have similar programs in place.
