UK imposes online entry permit on European visitors

New rules came into force Wednesday requiring European visitors to the UK to buy an online entry permit as the government revised longstanding regulations to boost border security.

Travellers from Europe now need a digital Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) permit, which UK officials said they were rolling out to boost security and streamline entry processes. The ETA has already been introduced for American, Canadian and other visa-exempt nationals visiting the UK, which left the European Union in 2020.

The permit would speed up entry times and allow officials to check information including a traveller's immigration history or criminal record, the head of the UK's border force said. The permit allows visits of up to six months.

The application, which can be made on a smartphone app or through the government website, has been open to Europeans since the start of March. It applies to nationals of some 30 European countries, including all those in the European Union except Ireland.