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U.S. Travelers Will Soon Have to Pay to Enter the U.K.

U.S. visitors—as well as visitors from Europe , Australia and Canada —will soon be required to apply for permission to enter the U.K. through a new scheme known as Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

The U.K. government is in the process of fully digitizing U.K. borders by the end of 2025—and the ETA scheme will play its part, allowing “individuals, and carriers, with more assurance at an earlier point in time about their ability to travel to the U.K.,” the government said.

The scheme will be in place by the end of this year (2023), and visitors will be required to fill out an online application granting them permission to travel. There will be a small fee included in the application—similar to how the U.S.'s own ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) system works for U.K. travelers.

Here's everything we know.

Will I need a visa to enter the U.K.?

This isn't technically a visa—the ETA system will grant travelers permission to enter the country. You will need to apply for an ETA prior to arrival. If you haven't received permission to travel before arrival, you may get fined.

Travelers from the U.S. will soon need to apply for permission to enter the U.K.

How long will it take to get an ETA?

Travelers will be advised to apply for an ETA at least a few days before their journey. Approval should be granted within 72 hours of application.

How long will an ETA last?

After your ETA has been approved, visitors will be granted permission to stay in the U.K. for six months, whether for business or tourism reasons.

The U.K. government is yet to confirm how often visitors will need to apply for a new ETA, but it's likely to be valid for two years—meaning there's no need to apply for a new one every time you visit within the valid time period.

Visitors with valid ETAs can stay—and travel—in U.K. for up to six months.

How much will an ETA cost?

We don't know yet—but the government has said that the cost will be small. The EU implemented a similar system in 2022, which costs €7. A U.S. ESTA, meanwhile, costs $21.

Who will need to apply for an ETA?

The full list of nations included hasn't been announced yet. We do know that U.S. citizens who don't hold a visa will need to apply for an ETA, as will other visa-exempt nations such as Canada and Australia. European countries are likely to be included, too.  Those traveling from nationalities without a visa-free agreement with the UK will still need to apply for another applicable type of UK visa.

What will I need to apply for an ETA?

You'll need a valid passport , an email address to register with, and to supply the details of your travel, as well as a valid debit or credit card to pay any fees to apply.

To keep up to date with the latest information on the ETA scheme, check the official website for more details as they become available.

This article originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveller U.K.  

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Soon open to fully vaccinated Americans: Everything you need to know about traveling to the UK

On Wednesday afternoon, England made the announcement that many had been waiting on for months. As of Aug. 2 at 4 a.m., fully vaccinated Americans and EU travelers will no longer have to quarantine for 10 days on arrival in England when they are traveling from an "amber" country under the U.K.'s traffic light system.

In other words, England will be open again to American and EU tourists who are fully vaccinated.

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But, even with the requirement to self-isolate for American travelers no longer in the way, traveling to England at this time still has some intricacies.

Here's what you need to know if you plan to travel to England — and the U.K. — right now.

What do I need to visit the UK without quarantine?

If you were fully vaccinated in the U.S. or EU, you will be able to enter the U.K. as of 4 a.m. on Aug. 2 without the need to quarantine for 10 days and submit a COVID-19 PCR test on day eight. Additionally, arrivals from the following non-EU European countries will also get the exemption: Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and Vatican City.

Related: Are you fully vaccinated? Here's what travel looks like for you right now

Eligible vaccinated passengers must be fully vaccinated and have had their final dose of the vaccine at least 14 days prior to arrival in the U.K. Additionally, the vaccine must be authorized by the Food and Drug Administration — in other words, the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine — for Americans, the European Medicines Agency for EU arrivals or SwissMedic for Swiss arrivals.

To show proof of your vaccination status, Americans will need their U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention card as well as proof of U.S. residency. A passport should count as proof of your U.S. residency.

What forms and testing do I need to visit the UK?

Since January 2021, the U.K. requires that all arriving passengers have proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure or face a fine of 500 pounds. (Arrivals coming from the Common Travel Area are exempt from this.) Eligible tests include a nucleic acid test (such as a PCR test), LAMP test or an antigen test, such as from a lateral flow device. You will need to show proof of this negative test result either on a printed document or on an email or text message that you can display on your phone.

Additionally, all arriving passengers must have filled out a passenger locator form . The form, which takes about 10 minutes to complete, must be finished before you travel to the U.K.

Lastly, all fully vaccinated American and EU arrivals must have pre-booked a COVID-19 PCR test to take on or before day two of being in the U.K. While you won't need to quarantine during the time waiting for the test result, you will still need to take the test. As mentioned, the test must be pre-booked prior to traveling to the U.K. through a government-approved provider — you can find the full list of providers here .

How do I order a day two test and how much will it cost?

As mentioned, the day two test must be pre-booked prior to your travel to the U.K. through a government-approved provider. You can order either an at-home, self-swab test or one taken at a health provider's site.

Note that you are not permitted to order a free COVID-19 PCR test via the U.K.'s National Health Service. Tests used for travel must be purchased by the traveler.

You can expect to pay between 25 and 100 pounds ($35 and $140) for a test. The cost will vary, depending on a number of factors. For example, if you want your results on the same day, you should expect to pay more. Check with your airline to see if it offers a discount on day two testing packages. British Airways, for example, offers a small discount when purchasing your test through its partner providers.

Keep in mind that you will not need to quarantine to wait for the result of the day two test. Instead, you will be free to roam around outside while you await the results. For that reason, it may not be worth paying extra for a same-day test result.

If you elect to opt for an at-home, self-swab test, consult with your hotel to see if it will accept delivery of the test on your behalf.

What happens if my day two test comes back positive?

Within two days of arriving in the U.K., you will have taken the test. If the PCR test result comes back positive, you will be required to undergo a 10-day quarantine at your own expense. You will need to quarantine for 10 days from the day after you took the test.

You will likely need to find an Airbnb or hotel to quarantine in — unless you have family or friends in the U.K. who can host you for your quarantine. If not, this could be a large added expense that should be on the minds of travelers before heading for the U.K. You may want to look into your travel insurance to see if the provider will assist with the quarantine if you test positive.

Related: What to pack in case you test positive abroad for COVID-19 and can't return to the US

Are vaccinated Americans allowed in just England or also the rest of the UK?

Wednesday's announcement came from the U.K.'s transport secretary Grant Shapps and pertained only to England. However, the four devolved nations have largely followed one another in their COVID-19-related travel restrictions: all have a traffic light system with largely the same countries occupying each level.

Later on Wednesday, Scotland and Wales followed suit and said that as of the same date and time, fully vaccinated travelers from the U.S. and EU will be permitted to travel to Scotland and Wales without the need to quarantine.

On Thursday afternoon, Northern Ireland finally followed suit. As of the same time, fully vaccinated Americans and Europeans can travel to the whole of the U.K. without the need to quarantine from an amber country.

What about children who are unvaccinated?

If you are planning to travel to the U.K. and are fully vaccinated but want to take your unvaccinated children with you, here's what you need to know. Children younger than 18 who reside in the U.S. or EU will not need to isolate if they are coming from an amber list country.

Children who are younger than 5 do not need to test at all — pre-departure or post-arrival. Children who are aged between 5 and 10 will need to take a PCR test on day two after arrival. Finally, those aged between 11 and 17 will need a pre-departure test and a PCR test before or on day two.

What if I'm coming from a red list country?

The U.K. is still using a traffic light system to categorize countries based on their COVID-19 risk level: red for high risk , amber for medium risk and green for low risk . At this time, the U.S. and most EU countries remain on the amber list, which requires a 10-day quarantine on arrival (and tests on days two and eight of quarantine) for unvaccinated travelers.

Note that the Aug. 2 changes that are set to exempt American and EU fully vaccinated travelers only apply if they are coming from an amber country. If you have been in — including transited — a red list country in the 10 days prior to entry, you will be considered to be coming from a red list country, regardless of your vaccination status.

Red list arrivals are subject to a hotel quarantine in a government-supervised facility . The cost of hotel quarantine is 1,750 pounds (about $2,445) for a single traveler.

Note that while the U.S. and EU countries are not on the red list at this time, they could be moved to the red list at a moment's notice. Additionally, note that some major transit hubs such as Dubai (DXB), Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Doha (DOH) are on the red list at this time. So, if you're traveling to the U.K. via any of these Middle Eastern hubs, you will be considered a red list arrival. You will need to communicate this on your passenger locator form.

Do the new rules have any effect on transiting through Heathrow?

If you've got a flight itinerary that takes you through London Heathrow without needing to leave the airport, you will be able to do so.

Additionally, if you are transiting through Heathrow on to another international destination, you do not need to quarantine or take a COVID-19 test on arrival or on day two and day eight. However, you must present to your airline a completed passenger locator form and proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of departure.

Related: Everything you need to know about transiting through European airports during the pandemic

On your passenger locator form, be sure to select "Stay in the U.K." under the "Your travel plans" section. You'll also want to answer no to any questions about whether you are required to complete COVID-19 tests on arrival.

What is 'amber plus'?

To make matters even more confusing, there is one relatively new addition to the traffic light system, dubbed "amber plus." Anyone who has traveled to, from or transited through an amber plus country in the past 10 days will still be required to abide by full amber arrival rules, even if they are fully vaccinated.

In other words, traveling to, from or through an amber plus country will still require you to quarantine for 10 days and take a COVID-19 test on days two and eight of quarantine.

Currently, there is only one country — France — on the amber plus list. However, it's worth noting that a country could be moved from amber to amber plus at any moment.

I'm not vaccinated. Can I still enter the UK?

Since the start of the pandemic , the U.K. has not placed an outright ban on Americans entering the country. However, travelers coming from the U.S. have long been subject to quarantine requirements. That still holds true for unvaccinated Americans.

Unvaccinated Americans are allowed to enter the U.K., however, they will be designated as true amber arrivals, meaning they will need to quarantine for 10 days on arrival, as well as take a COVID-19 PCR test on days two and eight. Quarantining amber arrivals in England can elect to shorten their quarantine period using Test to Release to take an additional test after five days of quarantine.

Bottom line

Ultimately, when this change takes effect as of 4 a.m. on Aug. 2, it will be welcome news for Americans and EU travelers hoping to see friends and family in Britain or just visit the U.K. for vacation. That said, there are still rules that need to be followed by fully vaccinated Americans and Europeans.

Unfortunately, the U.S. has yet to lift its ban on travelers who are noncitizens coming from the Schengen Area, United Kingdom, Brazil, China and others. Hopefully, with the U.K. and EU lifting requirements for American travelers, the U.S. may follow suit at some point in the not-too-distant future.

Until then, transatlantic travel largely remains a one-way operation.

Travelers will need 'permission' and a fee to visit the UK

FILE-People stroll over Westminster Bridge next to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben in London, UK. Big Ben, officially known as the Elizabeth Tower, was unveiled in May 2022. (Photo by: Andy Soloman/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The British government has rolled out a new requirement for travelers hoping to visit the country.

An "Electronic Travel Authorization" (ETA) has been implemented that digitizes tourists' requests to visit the country while paying a fee of about $13. 

"Everyone wishing to travel to the U.K . – except British and Irish citizens – will need permission to travel in advance of coming here," says the United Kingdom government’s site.

TRAVELERS COULD FACE NEW PENALTY FOR EXCEEDING BAGGAGE LIMIT ON TRAINS

The ETAs are linked to a traveler’s passport in an effort to smooth security checks and "prevent abuse" of the immigration system.

There were 38 million visits to the U.K. during 2023, an increase of 6.7 million visits compared with 2022, according to the U.K. Office for National Statistics. 

An online form will be made available asking for valid passport information, travel details, an email address and a credit or debit card, along with "suitability questions."

The ETA applies to anyone visiting for up to six months for tourism, to see family and friends, for business or for short-term study.

"The worldwide expansion of the ETA demonstrates our commitment to enhance security through new technology and embedding a modern immigration system," the minister for Migration and Citizenship , Seema Malhotra, said in a press release.

"[Digitization] enables a smooth experience for the millions of people who pass through the border every year, including the visitors we warmly welcome to the UK who are predicted to contribute over £32 billion to our tourism economy this year," added Malhotra.

The system will open up to all other nationalities, except Europeans , this November and will be required for entry beginning in April 2025.

The United Kingdom plans to fully digitize its borders by 2025.

Get the latest updates on this story at FOXNews.com

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Fears Spain’s new tourism rules could breach Britons’ privacy rights

Spanish hotels, travel agencies and vehicle rental companies must provide extra details about tourists under new government rules .

MADRID – British holidaymakers’ privacy rights could be breached by new Spanish regulations that are being imposed on the tourist industry, a leading hoteliers’ federation has warned.

Spanish hotels, travel agencies and vehicle rental companies must provide up to 18 extra details about tourists under the government rules which are due to come in to force from Tuesday 1 October.

The Confederation of Spanish Hoteliers and Tourist Accommodation (CEHAT), which represents 16,000 tourist establishments, said the regulations would cause “chaos” and “puts the viability of the sector in serious danger”.

The list of data which must be collected includes payment methods, contract details, home addresses, mobile phone numbers and email addresses of visitors.

The confederation noted that according to a 2022 ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ), collection of personal data of tourists must be restricted to what is strictly necessary.

CEHAT claimed that the new Spanish regulations breached the court’s ruling.

“The collection and storage of data, as proposed, does not respect the principles of proportionality and minimisation, which could generate sanctions, legal actions and greater legal uncertainty for the obligated subjects,” it said in a statement.

What's on Gibraltar's post-Brexit wish list as UK and Spain meet for talks

“Furthermore, the regulations imply a significant interference in the privacy rights of tourists and users without offering clear safeguards, limiting massive data collection to specific and justified cases.”

Maria Frontera, president of the Mallorcan Federation of Hoteliers, told i : “We demand that the government changes and reforms these rules and delays their enforcement until we have reached an agreement.”

The 2016 EU Passenger Name Record (PNR) directorate allows for the collection names, flight information, addresses, travel itinerary, payment information, baggage information and more. This information can be passed to law enforcement authorities in EU states.

However, the 2022 ECJ ruling found: “The system established by the PNR directorate must cover only clearly identifiable and circumscribed information.”

The application of this system must be “limited to terrorist offences and serious crime having an objective link, even if only an indirect one, with the carriage of passengers by air”.

The new Spanish regulations go one step further than the PNR directorate allows, CEHAT claims.

These new details must be submitted by hoteliers to the Spanish Ministry of Interior, in a process CEHAT described as “very inefficient”.

Spain ’s Interior Ministry has said the new regulations had been delayed repeatedly to give the tourist sector time to prepare.

The regulations are designed to help protect the public from terrorism and organised crime, a spokesman added.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for the Interior Ministry said: “The regulation respects the principle of efficiency, proportionality, judicial security and transparency.

“It is justified for the general interest for the security of citizens against the threat of terrorism and other serious offences committed by criminal organisations.”

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11 Namibians travel to UK on Chevening Scholarships

British High Commission Windhoek bids farewell to 11 Chevening Scholarship recipients at the British High Commissioners Residence.

A total of 11 Namibian professionals have received Chevening Scholarships for the coming academic year (2024/25).

At an event held at British High Commissioners residence in Windhoek, the new cohort were formally welcomed to the global Chevening community by British High Commissioner to Namibia H.E. Charles Moore, officials from the High Commission and alumni. The scholars will leave for the UK during the month of September and will be enrolled in some of the most prestigious universities in the world.

Speaking at the pre-departure event Chevening Alumni Association of Namibia (CANN) member, Abel Abel encouraged this year’s cohort to make the most of the opportunity that lies ahead. Reflecting on his own experiences, he noted that Chevening is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity that should be used for one’s personal and professional growth.

Chevening Scholarships are the UK Government’s global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organizations. The scholarships support one-year taught master’s degrees at UK universities for individuals with demonstrable potential to become future leaders, decision-makers, and opinion formers.

Chevening began in 1983 and has developed into a prestigious international awards scheme. Chevening Scholars come from over 160 countries and territories worldwide. There are over 57,000 Chevening Alumni around the world who comprise of an influential and highly regarded global network.

Applications for the 2025/2026 are currently open until 5 November 2024.The British High Commission Windhoek invites eligible Namibians who aspire to further their studies in the UK to apply by visiting (https://www.chevening.org/apply).

The 11 scholars are:

• Paulina Ndemupandula Shifugula, University of Hull, MSc Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
• Fiina Fenni Tulonga Iitula, University of St Andrews, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) with English Medium Instruction
• Vendjipa Zenaune Shingandye, University of Strathclyde, Information and Library Studies
• Tamekeni Nantuua, The University of Edinburgh, Carbon Management
• Sigoopeni Pauline Klemens, University of Glasgow, Global Health
• Edward Shatipamba Hifivali, University of Aberdeen, Energy Economics and Law
• Iyaloo Ndapandula Hamulungu, University of Aberdeen, Energy Economics and Law
• Sylvia Precious Kauluma, University of Dundee, International Oil and Gas Law and Policy
• Ruusa Megameno Nangolo, University of Warwick, Programme and Project Management
• Siegbert Kahare, University of Birmingham, Migration Studies
• Mberiuka Girlenley Mauha, University of Bolton, Early Childhood Studies

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