A new regulation of the United Kingdom, which comes into effect on the first week of 2025 will require citizens of Canada, the U.S. and other hitherto visa-free countries visiting or transiting through the UK to obtain a digital authorisation.
Naija Daily News gathered that under the new rule, such travellers, who could just get a ticket, and board a flight to the UK, would not need to apply and obtain an electronic travel authorisation, ETA.
The ETA, which costs £10 ($13), is to be linked to the traveller’s passports, and it has a lifespan of two years, according to a report by The New York Times.
ETA, according to findings, was first introduced in 2023 for six Middle East countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar and it is now expected to be expanded to all visa-free countries, including the member states of the European Union.
The NYT report explained that the ETA is for short-term visits (within 180 days) for the affected countries, noting that it does not replace the existing visa policies.
Aviation and tourism industry experts told our reporter that the new move could be a way for the ruling Labour Party to rake in more money, particularly from London Heathrow Airport, one of the world’s busiest airports with a passenger traffic of 79.2m in 2023.
