The United Kingdom has made it mandatory for travelers worldwide, including those from visa-exempt countries such as Korea, to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before boarding. It is a sweeping border-control measure that replaces the previous face-to-face eligibility checks at border control with a data-based, pre-clearance system.
The U.K. Home Office said on the 25th (local time) that, starting that day, carriers such as airlines and ferry companies will be required to deny boarding to visa-exempt visitors from 85 countries, including Korea, the United States, Canada, and France, if they have not obtained a valid ETA in advance. The intention is to screen out potential risks outside U.K. territory ahead of time.
The ETA is a digital travel permit introduced for short-term foreign visitors. It is different in nature from a formal visa, which requires complex document screening. Like the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (ESTA), once issued, it can be used without a limit on the number of entries for two years. With ETA approval, visitors may stay in the U.K. for up to six months per visit for tourism, family visits, or short business trips. The issuance fee is 16 pounds (about 39,000 won). Applications must be submitted through a dedicated mobile app or the government website. U.K. authorities said, "Applicants must answer in detail questions about biometric data, personal information, and criminal history," adding, "Most applicants receive automatic approval within minutes, but we recommend completing the application at least three business days before departure as a precaution."
With this measure, the rules for controlling transfer passengers in the U.K. have also become stricter. Even if the final destination is not the U.K., connecting passengers transiting through major U.K. cities such as London who must pass through U.K. passport control to retrieve baggage must obtain an ETA in advance. Only those making a simple transfer without collecting baggage at London's Heathrow Airport or at Manchester Airport, the largest and a major airport respectively, can avoid this requirement.
U.K. authorities are providing a digital automated verification system to global airlines, rail operators, and ferry companies so they can check passengers' entry and exit authorization in real time, helping smooth implementation. In return, they are considering tough penalties such as license revocation for carriers that transport passengers without a valid ETA. As a result, on-site check-in counter screenings are expected to be even stricter than inspections at the arrivals hall. Travelers who are ultimately denied an ETA cannot immediately file an appeal. In that case, they must restart the more time-consuming and expensive formal U.K. visa application process from the beginning.
Despite strong pushback, the U.K. government decided to introduce the ETA to build a digital border system and strengthen pre-risk management. The plan is to prevent individuals with criminal records or those at risk of overstaying from boarding in the first place, significantly reducing administrative resources wasted on border control. Of course, even with prior ETA approval, if separate grounds for suspicion are found during in-person screening by Border Force, entry can be refused and the person can be sent back to their home country. Mike Tapp, the U.K. Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, said that day, "The ETA system is an essential step to strengthen U.K. border security," adding, "It helps provide a more efficient and modern service for travelers and the British public alike." All fees secured through the system will be fully reinvested to automate the U.K. immigration system and improve border infrastructure.
Major advanced countries have recently been shifting their immigration control systems en masse to digital, pre-authorization models. The system the U.K. is introducing now is essentially the same in structure as the U.S. ESTA or Canada's ETA, which adopted similar procedures earlier. Not only the U.K., but the European Union is also rushing to launch a €20 European Travel Information and Authorization System by the end of this year. Israel moved a step ahead of the U.K., beginning in January last year to require online pre-approval even for visitors from visa-exempt countries. Once the system is fully in place, contactless border crossings will be faster and smoother without paper documents. The U.K. government emphasized that millions of visitors will immediately enjoy a more seamless travel experience with the introduction of this system.