Janice R. Andrews
As transport rules change because of Brexit, the UK will start requiring EU citizens to have an electronic pass on April 2, 2025. After the UK leaves the EU, people from the EU who want to visit the UK will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) along with their visa.
The ETA, which costs £10 (about €12) per person, will be needed by all tourists, even those just passing through UK airports. This digital visa works for two years, or until the ID runs out. The UK is now following the new European travel rules, especially the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which will apply to people from outside the EU and Schengen countries starting in mid-2025. This new rule is in line with those rules.
While the ETA is a reaction to the ETIAS rule for entering the Schengen Area, it also means that EU citizens will be subject to measures that are the opposite of what they are complaining about. Notably, Irish visitors will not have to get an ETA for the UK.
This is a big change for people who want to travel between the UK and EU countries. They will have to learn how to use new digital visa systems as Brexit continues to affect rules that apply across borders. Stay tuned for more news about travel rules.
