ETA for travel to UK on or after Jan 8 2025

[WESTEAST]

As of November 27, 2024, Canadians will be able to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for travel on or after January 8, 2025.
You will need to apply for your ETA before travelling to or transiting through the UK. You must travel on the passport used for your ETA application. Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta)
 – UK Visas and Immigration. It costs £10 to apply. Everyone travelling needs to get an ETA, including babies and children. 

[WESTEAST]

11 minutes ago, WESTEAST said:

As of November 27, 2024, Canadians will be able to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for travel on or after January 8, 2025.
You will need to apply for your ETA before travelling to or transiting through the UK. You must travel on the passport used for your ETA application. Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta)
 – UK Visas and Immigration. It costs £10 to apply. Everyone travelling needs to get an ETA, including babies and children. 

Just saw a previous post so apologies for posting same info again.

[CDNPolar]

I know that many are confused with what is about to happen in the UK and Europe.  Here is an overview.

 

the UK's Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is somewhat related to the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) and European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), but they are distinct systems with different purposes and scopes.

 

The UK ETA is a travel authorization for visa-exempt travelers entering the UK, designed to enhance border security by pre-screening travelers before they arrive. It is similar to the U.S. ESTA or Canada's eTA, applying to travelers who previously did not need visas. It will be implemented starting January 2025 for non-European travelers and later for Europeans.

1.  

2. ETIAS is a travel authorization system for visa-exempt travelers entering the Schengen Zone in the EU, also aimed at pre-screening travellers to enhance security. While ETIAS is required for those entering the Schengen area, ETA is specific to the UK. ETIAS is expected to start sometime in 2025 (probably May) and is part of the EU's broader Smart Borders initiative.

3. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is part of the EU's border management strategy, which will record entry, exit, and refusal of entry for non-EU nationals entering the Schengen area. It’s more of a border control system rather than a pre-authorization like ETIAS and ETA.  The EES we understand to be pictures and fingerprints that will be associated with the biometric data of your passport and this may start to happen at any time October/November.  This will happen when you land and you may have longer processing times so ensure that you have a longer than usual connection.

 

In summary, while ETA, ETIAS, and EES all aim to improve border security, they serve different regions and specific purposes. The ETA applies to the UK, ETIAS to the EU's Schengen area, and EES focuses on managing non-EU travelers entering the Schengen Zone.

[WESTEAST]

6 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

I know that many are confused with what is about to happen in the UK and Europe.  Here is an overview.

 

 

the UK's Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is somewhat related to the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) and European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), but they are distinct systems with different purposes and scopes.

 

The UK ETA is a travel authorization for visa-exempt travelers entering the UK, designed to enhance border security by pre-screening travelers before they arrive. It is similar to the U.S. ESTA or Canada's eTA, applying to travelers who previously did not need visas. It will be implemented starting January 2025 for non-European travelers and later for Europeans.

1.  

2. ETIAS is a travel authorization system for visa-exempt travelers entering the Schengen Zone in the EU, also aimed at pre-screening travellers to enhance security. While ETIAS is required for those entering the Schengen area, ETA is specific to the UK. ETIAS is expected to start sometime in 2025 (probably May) and is part of the EU's broader Smart Borders initiative.

3. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is part of the EU's border management strategy, which will record entry, exit, and refusal of entry for non-EU nationals entering the Schengen area. It’s more of a border control system rather than a pre-authorization like ETIAS and ETA.  The EES we understand to be pictures and fingerprints that will be associated with the biometric data of your passport and this may start to happen at any time October/November.  This will happen when you land and you may have longer processing times so ensure that you have a longer than usual connection.

 

In summary, while ETA, ETIAS, and EES all aim to improve border security, they serve different regions and specific purposes. The ETA applies to the UK, ETIAS to the EU's Schengen area, and EES focuses on managing non-EU travelers entering the Schengen Zone.

Great summary thank you @CDNPolar.  Only item to add is that for the ETIAS, we will have to pay approximately 7 EUR per person in advance of your trip (to be done online) and it is to be valid for 3 years.

As well, the article we read for EES states: "Automated barriers have been installed at the Schengen Area’s international land, maritime and air borders in anticipation of EES. The new protocol was originally slated to launch in 2022, but IT issues and more caused delays. Currently the EES launch date is Nov. 10, 2024".  There is no charge for the EES. This is similar to entry to other countries like Japan and just hope entry is smoother/faster than what we experienced in March at the Narita airport!

[CDNPolar]

On 10/13/2024 at 3:30 PM, WESTEAST said:

Great summary thank you @CDNPolar.  Only item to add is that for the ETIAS, we will have to pay approximately 7 EUR per person in advance of your trip (to be done online) and it is to be valid for 3 years.

As well, the article we read for EES states: "Automated barriers have been installed at the Schengen Area’s international land, maritime and air borders in anticipation of EES. The new protocol was originally slated to launch in 2022, but IT issues and more caused delays. Currently the EES launch date is Nov. 10, 2024".  There is no charge for the EES. This is similar to entry to other countries like Japan and just hope entry is smoother/faster than what we experienced in March at the Narita airport!

 

Well, we are always so envious of the EU passport holders when we land in a Schengen country as they breeze through and we are in long lines.  This to us is going to be brilliant, BUT, BUT, BUT, the implementation of the EES means that as we first land in a Schengen country we will have to have photographs and fingerprints taken.  This will be the bottleneck until you have had that done for the first time.  I hope that they are ready for that!

I suggest that if you are flying from anywhere into Europe when this starts, AND you are CONNECTING to another flight that you leave sufficient time to do this.  If your connection is too short you may be in trouble.

[Alberta Quilter]

Thank you for the information!  I’ll be flying to Amsterdam and cruising to Norway and the UK next June.  So, if I understand this correctly, I need to get all three documents, is that correct?  How far in advance should one make their applications?  I wonder how long the process will take to be fully approved.  And what will happen if, for some reason, one is not approved.

[WESTEAST]

6 hours ago, Alberta Quilter said:

Thank you for the information!  I’ll be flying to Amsterdam and cruising to Norway and the UK next June.  So, if I understand this correctly, I need to get all three documents, is that correct?  How far in advance should one make their applications?  I wonder how long the process will take to be fully approved.  And what will happen if, for some reason, one is not approved.

You can monitor the sites below for any updates on dates, etc. We are hoping it is as straight forward as the travel authorizations/visas we did for Australia, New Zealand and Turkey - received by email approval in under one hour after submitting online and paying. Not the case with Japan though.

 

ETA for UK: effective Jan 8, 2025 and Canadians can apply Nov 27, 2024 for travel on or after January 8, 2025. Link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta Video: https://youtu.be/uG1zaOMl63M

 

EES for EU: current effective Nov. 10, 2024.  https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en

 

ETIAS for EU: no confirmed effective date - anticipate mid 2025 (six months after EES)

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en. Noteworthy is that "Applicants who are under 18 or above 70 years of age are exempt from this payment". 

 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by WESTEAST

[Cardex]

An update on the EES, it has been postponed again. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgey0vvxxw7o

[WESTEAST]

9 minutes ago, Cardex said:

An update on the EES, it has been postponed again. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgey0vvxxw7o

Gosh didn't see on their website and thanks for confirming that EES is postponed again with no timeline indicated!