As of Wednesday, April 2, 2025, all European citizens require an electronic travel approval (ETA) to enter the UK, whether for tourism, business or study for up to six months.
The ETA is a digital permit to travel to the UK. It is not a visa and does not allow people to live in the UK, but instead allows people to travel to the UK for a limited period of time.
Although ETAs are not new, European citizens have previously been able to enter the country without an ETA or visa.
The introduction of ETAs was made to enhance border security as it would help prevent the arrival of people pose a threat to the UK.
It currently costs £10 per traveler, allowing multiple trips to the UK for up to six months over two years or until the owner's passport expires. However, prices will rise from April 9th to £16.
To apply for an ETA, travelers must either download the official app or visit the UK government website to start the process. However, it wasn't that easy.
They're joining social media platforms like Facebook and warning others after misusing the wrong website and being scamed for hundreds of pounds.
One of these people was Australian traveler Michelle Jones. Michelle Jones took her to a Facebook travel group and said, “I'm not a fan of my life.”
She explained: “When I went to pay, I said it was $20.66, but they tried to take $132 out of my account. Unfortunately for me, I tried to pay with a credit and debit card.
A second person named Laura de Marco took me on Facebook to Rick Steve's European group and said, “Can someone help with the UK ETA? My husband looks like he's paid $140.
People are quick to tackle comments and the best way to prevent fraud is to make sure they are on the official “gov.uk” website or download the UK ETA app on your phone or tablet.
Another commented: “There are private companies that do this for you. Most are legal, but they are for-profit companies, so always check out the official national mobile app or official government websites whenever possible.”
The third Lorena McCracken Hiep shared a message from the same travel group to show how “scammed” websites first appeared on Google when searching for ETA applications.
She writes: “If you search for 'UK ETA' on Google, IVISA will be the first to appear. It's a scam. Use only the Gov.uk website and direct you to the correct app. ”
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the easiest way to apply for an ETA is to use the “UK ETA App” that can be downloaded for free on Google Play or the Apple App Store. People can apply via computers on gov.uk. Applicants can usually get results within a few hours, but travelers are urged to allow three business days for decisions regarding their application.
