The Diplomat
On Wednesday 5 March, registration for the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will open to European citizens, a new system that will be mandatory for travel to the United Kingdom from 2 April, according to the British Embassy in Madrid.
This system is similar to those that have been introduced or will be introduced in other countries to improve border security, such as the United States or Australia, or as the European Union will do soon.
“It is important that people comply with this new procedure, which simply aims to improve security management. The United Kingdom is delighted to continue receiving travellers from Spain, who make a great contribution to our country,” said the British ambassador, Alex Ellis.
Registration, which can be done on the British Government website or with the UK ETA application, will have an initial cost of 10 pounds (about 12 euros) and will last for two years, once approval is received. During those two years, you can travel to the UK as many times as you like for stays of less than six months. In the coming months, an increase to 16 pounds (about 19 euros) is expected. Registration will be a very simple and quick online process, as the authorization will normally take between a few hours and a couple of days.
Those travelers who travel to the UK only in transit, staying at the airport to catch another flight, those who have an approved visa, those who are already registered as residents in the United Kingdom, or those citizens with an Irish passport will be exempt from registration.
The aim of the AEV – ETA, according to the Embassy, is to improve the digital immigration system. These changes will make the process faster and safer for the millions of people who pass through the UK’s borders every year. Specifically, the United Kingdom receives around two million travelers from Spain.
