UK rolling out Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks! that’s cleared up a lot of questions, which weren’t covered on the uk’s own official website! I see the uk says you can check your eVisa status - which can be used as proof of entitlement - at anytime as long as you have a UKVI log in.

Is that system up and running? Because otherwise everyone should have one of those if they intend to travel and don’t have the other documents or a passport?

 

[VPS]

This is referring to the UK transitioning the Identity Card for Foreign Nationals (publicly referred to as Biometric Residence Permits) to Electronic Visas without making sure that the e-visa system actually works for everyone.

Similarly EU/EEA citizens who have obtained Settled Status from when the UK was in the EU, have no physical way to prove this status.

People who can't get their e-Visa to show up will therefore have problems travelling to the UK until the responsible government agency fixes things.

Thanks - that was what I was reading about and I couldn't remember the details

 

[Zero]

Thanks! that’s cleared up a lot of questions, which weren’t covered on the uk’s own official website! I see the uk says you can check your eVisa status - which can be used as proof of entitlement - at anytime as long as you have a UKVI log in.

Is that system up and running? Because otherwise everyone should have one of those if they intend to travel and don’t have the other documents or a passport?

It's basically similar to Australia's system where non-citizens travel with only their passport and all the visa info is held online (and needs to be verified in real time at check in etc)

The system is operational but like with all new IT projects it isn't working perfectly for everybody. Apparently you can still use your (expired) residence card/permit to travel if it isn't working for you but airlines might not accept that.

Unlike Australia which has a universal visa system the UK seems to have three different databases for now - ETA for tourists from formerly visa-exempt countries, EUSS system for EU/EEA citizens who have retained EU rights, and eVisa for other long-term residents. Also short-term (<6 months) visa holders seem to still be getting physical stickers in their passports.

 

[Leccy]

How is check in coping? Are airlines doing that annoying thing where they insist you use self-service machines which tell you to seek assistance every time? Or have they got it working.