Starting Jan. 8, an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) went into effect for most U.S. citizens traveling to or through the United Kingdom.
The system is meant to “deliver a more streamlined, digital immigration system, which will be quicker and more secure for the millions of people who pass through the U.K. border each year," the U.K. government's Home Office website stated.
The U.K. joins a list of other countries that already have an authorization scheme in place, including the U.S., Canada, Australia and, soon, the European Union. Starting “some time in 2025,” the European Union will launch the ETIAS travel security program, which stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System. Like ETA, it is a program that conducts background checks on applicants to identify potential security risks entering Europe’s external borders.
Both programs point out that travelers can apply online and that response times, in most cases, are very quick.
Since we are planning a trip to England and France for later this year, I decided to apply for my ETA, which is good for multiple entries and two years, once approved.
Here’s what I found.
I logged on to the U.K. Government’s Home Office website, perused the questions, and concluded that I needed one and would likely qualify. The ETA costs £10 using the UK ETA app or website.
That’s the first thing I found: the ETA has a strong bias for using its app as opposed to its website. The link to use the website is far along, toward the bottom of the page.
After ”If you cannot use the app,” I clicked “apply online”. That took me to another page that said, 
Yes, I know. You told me that on the previous page.
After scrolling past ”Continue of the app” and ”Download the app” accompanied by a QR code and links to the Apple App Store and Google Play, I FINALLY go to the “I cannot apply on the UK ETA app” link.
Yet another page that offered “Help downloading the UK ETA app”, “Try downloading the UK ETA app again” and finally, “If you cannot apply of the app” a “Continue application online.” Phew.
Finally, some specific instructions, but not nearly specific enough.
First step: “Take or upload a photo of the passport you will use to travel to the UK.” I scanned mine in and generated a PDF.
I then entered my email address and continued to the next screen where I would verify my email, then to a screen where I would upload my passport.
Trouble is (and this wasn’t stated anywhere), the photo had to be in the .jpeg format so mine was rejected. That mean rescanning and rendering it as a .jpeg. Travelers who use their iPhone to take a picture must be sure the camera is rendering in .jpeg and not HEIC, or theirs could be rejected, too.
After uploading the photo of the passport, travelers will be asked to upload another photo of themselves against a plain background with no pattern or shadows showing. It has to be different than the passport photo and show face, head, shoulders and upper body. Even with my long arms, I wasn’t sure a selfie would meet those criteria, but it did.
I did get a “caution” that my picture might not have met all the criteria and I was asked, “Do you want to proceed anyway?” to which I said yes.
To my relief, the picture was acceptable. Entering my payment information, I quickly got a receipt for US$13 and change, reflecting the exchange rate for the Pound Sterling, then a second email informing me that I had been approved, that I could travel to the U.K. for two years under this authorization, and I needed do nothing more: no copies of the email or any other proof, as the approval was noted in their system.
A couple of days later, I went through the process to obtain approval for my wife. Thanks to my previous experience, it went much more quickly; in fact, it was only eight minutes from the time I received my authorization code to the email advising her that she was approved and could now travel to the U.K. using only her passport.
CONCLUSION
It was fairly easy, though it could have been easier had the website advised of the required formats. And it was quick.
If you’re a fan of apps, that might make it easier but even online (once you’ve waded past the multiple screens encouraging you to use the app), the process was pretty simple.
Another box to be checked if your overseas travel plans include the U.K. but neither difficult nor expensive.
Safe travels!
Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.
The system is meant to “deliver a more streamlined, digital immigration system, which will be quicker and more secure for the millions of people who pass through the U.K. border each year," the U.K. government's Home Office website stated.
The U.K. joins a list of other countries that already have an authorization scheme in place, including the U.S., Canada, Australia and, soon, the European Union. Starting “some time in 2025,” the European Union will launch the ETIAS travel security program, which stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System. Like ETA, it is a program that conducts background checks on applicants to identify potential security risks entering Europe’s external borders.
Both programs point out that travelers can apply online and that response times, in most cases, are very quick.
Since we are planning a trip to England and France for later this year, I decided to apply for my ETA, which is good for multiple entries and two years, once approved.
Here’s what I found.
I logged on to the U.K. Government’s Home Office website, perused the questions, and concluded that I needed one and would likely qualify. The ETA costs £10 using the UK ETA app or website.
That’s the first thing I found: the ETA has a strong bias for using its app as opposed to its website. The link to use the website is far along, toward the bottom of the page.
After ”If you cannot use the app,” I clicked “apply online”. That took me to another page that said,
After scrolling past ”Continue of the app” and ”Download the app” accompanied by a QR code and links to the Apple App Store and Google Play, I FINALLY go to the “I cannot apply on the UK ETA app” link.
Yet another page that offered “Help downloading the UK ETA app”, “Try downloading the UK ETA app again” and finally, “If you cannot apply of the app” a “Continue application online.” Phew.
Finally, some specific instructions, but not nearly specific enough.
First step: “Take or upload a photo of the passport you will use to travel to the UK.” I scanned mine in and generated a PDF.
I then entered my email address and continued to the next screen where I would verify my email, then to a screen where I would upload my passport.
Trouble is (and this wasn’t stated anywhere), the photo had to be in the .jpeg format so mine was rejected. That mean rescanning and rendering it as a .jpeg. Travelers who use their iPhone to take a picture must be sure the camera is rendering in .jpeg and not HEIC, or theirs could be rejected, too.
After uploading the photo of the passport, travelers will be asked to upload another photo of themselves against a plain background with no pattern or shadows showing. It has to be different than the passport photo and show face, head, shoulders and upper body. Even with my long arms, I wasn’t sure a selfie would meet those criteria, but it did.
I did get a “caution” that my picture might not have met all the criteria and I was asked, “Do you want to proceed anyway?” to which I said yes.
To my relief, the picture was acceptable. Entering my payment information, I quickly got a receipt for US$13 and change, reflecting the exchange rate for the Pound Sterling, then a second email informing me that I had been approved, that I could travel to the U.K. for two years under this authorization, and I needed do nothing more: no copies of the email or any other proof, as the approval was noted in their system.
A couple of days later, I went through the process to obtain approval for my wife. Thanks to my previous experience, it went much more quickly; in fact, it was only eight minutes from the time I received my authorization code to the email advising her that she was approved and could now travel to the U.K. using only her passport.
CONCLUSION
It was fairly easy, though it could have been easier had the website advised of the required formats. And it was quick.
If you’re a fan of apps, that might make it easier but even online (once you’ve waded past the multiple screens encouraging you to use the app), the process was pretty simple.
Another box to be checked if your overseas travel plans include the U.K. but neither difficult nor expensive.
Safe travels!
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