UK rolling out Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

[RB001]

The EU ETIAS has age exemptions:-

ETIAS for Australian Citizens

Explore the essential ETIAS guide for Australian citizens traveling to Europe. Discover eligibility, application process, and benefits.

etias.com

Fee Waivers: Australian citizens under 18 or over 70 years of age will benefit from waived ETIAS application fees.

Indeed it does (Post 31 mentions just this) - a number of online articles confuse one with the other.

 

[Pushka]

The EU ETIAS has age exemptions:-

ETIAS for Australian Citizens

Explore the essential ETIAS guide for Australian citizens traveling to Europe. Discover eligibility, application process, and benefits.

etias.com

Fee Waivers: Australian citizens under 18 or over 70 years of age will benefit from waived ETIAS application fees.

That's what brother was talking about then, not UK. Despite his wife being born in the UK and rellies there, they never return. France? As frequently as possible.

 

[Himeno]

Finally got around to dealing with this UK money grab for upcoming flights.

Had approval back within 1 minute.

 

[mrsterryn]

We need to go back to the 60s when Brits and Aussies were free to live in each others counties without Visas.

We don't even have a reciprocal social security agreement with them. Though we do have a Medicare one

 

[Scash]

Indeed it does (Post 31 mentions just this) - a number of online articles confuse one with the other.

That's what brother was talking about then, not UK. Despite his wife being born in the UK and rellies there, they never return. France? As frequently as possible.

We're heading to both EU and UK in May so have to apply for both!

 

[RB001]

We're heading to both EU and UK in May so have to apply for both!

For May, it's not possible that ETIAS will be up and running.
Per the EU, ETIAS won't kick in until 6 months after EES (Entry/Exit System), which hasn't officially started yet in any case. (Due to start in 2025)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Surprisingly executivetraveller (ausbt) seems to have made the same omission as many other blogs in reporting that ETAs aren’t required for transit passengers. While they caveat this with the words ‘pax who don’t cross the border’, what they don’t point out, and what airlines also don’t tell you, is that you can only transit airside at Heathrow and Manchester. You cannot, for example, at Gatwick… this would affect connecting pax on Emirates and Singapore Airlines for example.

 

[Scash]

For May, it's not possible that ETIAS will be up and running.
Per the EU, ETIAS won't kick in until 6 months after EES (Entry/Exit System), which hasn't officially started yet in any case. (Due to start in 2025)

Thanks @RB001.

 

[elanshin]

It also indicates that the transit exemption may be only a temporary thing.

Clear as mud?

As I understand, BA was more than a little upset at the need for transit travellers for ETA (and probably LHR airport itself). Would make transiting in UK an absolute pain for EU > LHR > US.

So they backflipped the need for ETA for transit pax.
But it does beg the question, what happens if you're a transit pax, arriving late into LHR for another late night departure and that plane is now delayed until the next day.

How does the airport, airline and government handle that. Force those pax to do a ETA on the spot? Given LHR isn't open overnight...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As I understand, BA was more than a little upset at the need for transit travellers for ETA (and probably LHR airport itself). Would make transiting in UK an absolute pain for EU > LHR > US.

So they backflipped the need for ETA for transit pax.
But it does beg the question, what happens if you're a transit pax, arriving late into LHR for another late night departure and that plane is now delayed until the next day.

How does the airport, airline and government handle that. Force those pax to do a ETA on the spot? Given LHR isn't open overnight...

Some nationals already require a visa just to transit LHR, so this isn’t exactly new for BA.

I think probably the sheer volume of people getting caught out? Not realising they would need an ETA just for transit.

But as mentioned above, the only places this is applicable is Heathrow and Manchester. You’ll still need one to transit other airports, but I guess that doesn’t affect BA too much.

 

[Himeno]

I think probably the sheer volume of people getting caught out? Not realising they would need an ETA just for transit.

It may just be a temporary thing as people catch up to what's happening. Most people aren't going to be following changes to this sort of thing and won't have any idea they need it until they plan a trip to that location.

The airlines are already used to an ETA like thing or full visa being required for everyone when going to the US.

 

[VPS]

I can't remember where I read it to post the link but apparently it is catching a lot of long term UK residents that are not citizens out when they go to Europe

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I can't remember where I read it to post the link but apparently it is catching a lot of long term UK residents that are not citizens out when they go to Europe

who wouldn’t need one!

anyone with the permission to live, work or study in the uk, including those with ‘settled’ status or right of abode don’t need an ETA. Same for anyone with a visa.

 

[VPS]

who wouldn’t need one!

anyone with the permission to live, work or study in the uk, including those with ‘settled’ status or right of abode don’t need an ETA. Same for anyone with a visa.

that isn't the way this article read but as I can't find it then I can't confirm

 

[Pushka]

that isn't the way this article read but as I can't find it then I can't confirm

I asked son about this but as he's on a working type visa I think he's fine? They are off to Bucharest shortly, as you do.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I asked son about this but as he's on a working type visa I think he's fine? They are off to Bucharest shortly, as you do.

Yes, he’s fine! Visa holders don’t require an ETA. It’s all on the uk gov website under ‘who does not need an ETA’.

that isn't the way this article read but as I can't find it then I can't confirm

Will be interesting to see the details. There might be a subcategory of people who entered the uk before 1973 who may not have a document to show their Indefinite Leave to Remain. But I’m thinking that would be pretty rare, as they’d have needed proof of that previously if they’ve ever tried to re-enter the UK.

 

[Cynicor]

Could be people like aussies who have been there maybe 2-4 months already, head out, plan to come back and don’t realise. Possibly

 

[Zero]

what they don’t point out, and what airlines also don’t tell you, is that you can only transit airside at Heathrow and Manchester. You cannot, for example, at Gatwick…

And at MAN, only within the same terminal.

I believe LGW intends to reopen an airside transit route "eventually"

As I understand, BA was more than a little upset at the need for transit travellers for ETA (and probably LHR airport itself). Would make transiting in UK an absolute pain for EU > LHR > US.

what happens if you're a transit pax, arriving late into LHR for another late night departure and that plane is now delayed until the next day.

How does the airport, airline and government handle that. Force those pax to do a ETA on the spot? Given LHR isn't open overnight...

EU > UK > US and vice versa is already a pain because the UK forces you to reclear security whenever arriving from outside the UK. On a Schengen > Schengen > US or US > Schengen > Schengen itinerary you generally only need to go through security at the origin.

LHR is open overnight, for passengers who cannot enter the UK whether by intention or by misfortune. If not already in T3, they are forced to take the airside bus there and then must sit in a defined area, usually by one of the low-numbered gates, until the morning.

An ETA is not required to enter the UK. Currently, the requirement is to have applied for an ETA before checking in for a flight to the UK (see Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) "You can travel to the UK while waiting for a decision.")

In fact, at present the UK e-gates do not check whether you have an ETA, it is assumed that the airline will have done that. It is intended for the e-gates to reference the ETA database in the future.

There are always procedures for an emergency entry, for example if someone who cannot enter the UK has a medical problem that can't be treated airside. The ETA is intended to stop such people travelling to the UK in the first place, which is why they wanted it to apply to transit passengers too.

I can't remember where I read it to post the link but apparently it is catching a lot of long term UK residents that are not citizens out when they go to Europe

who wouldn’t need one!

anyone with the permission to live, work or study in the uk, including those with ‘settled’ status or right of abode don’t need an ETA. Same for anyone with a visa.

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.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

And at MAN, only within the same terminal.

I believe LGW intends to reopen an airside transit route "eventually"



EU > UK > US and vice versa is already a pain because the UK forces you to reclear security whenever arriving from outside the UK. On a Schengen > Schengen > US or US > Schengen > Schengen itinerary you generally only need to go through security at the origin.

LHR is open overnight, for passengers who cannot enter the UK whether by intention or by misfortune. If not already in T3, they are forced to take the airside bus there and then must sit in a defined area, usually by one of the low-numbered gates, until the morning.

An ETA is not required to enter the UK. Currently, the requirement is to have applied for an ETA before checking in for a flight to the UK (see Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) "You can travel to the UK while waiting for a decision.")

In fact, at present the UK e-gates do not check whether you have an ETA, it is assumed that the airline will have done that. It is intended for the e-gates to reference the ETA database in the future.

There are always procedures for an emergency entry, for example if someone who cannot enter the UK has a medical problem that can't be treated airside. The ETA is intended to stop such people travelling to the UK in the first place, which is why they wanted it to apply to transit passengers too.



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.

That’s interesting… how do they travel at all if they are settled but can’t prove it? My understanding was that settled status comes with ILR, which should appear in your passport? Those with identity card may struggle, granted, without any physical proof of their visa.

But it should be up to them to get a passport then.

 

[Zero]

That’s interesting… how do they travel at all if they are settled but can’t prove it? My understanding was that settled status comes with ILR, which should appear in your passport? Those with identity card may struggle, granted, without any physical proof of their visa.

But it should be up to them to get a passport then.

No, Settled Status is completely different to ILR, although both are functionally similar in that they allow you to live in the UK without time limit.

People granted ILR in the early 2010s or before received a sticker in their passport. This passport would now be expired as it would be more than 10 years old. Physical visa labels were generally no longer issued for ILR after that. Anyone trying to enter the UK with a physical ILR sticker has either not travelled for many years, or is carrying around an old passport as well as their latest passport.

People granted ILR more recently, or who desired updated proof of ILR, would have needed to obtain a Biometric Residence Permit (Identity Card for Foreign Nationals) - this is a document issued by the UK. All BRPs expired on 31 December 2024 with the intention of being replaced by e-Visas.

EU/EEA citizens, who qualified for Settled Status due to exercising their EEA rights while the UK was in the EU, never received physical proof of their status, which has always been held entirely electronically.

Non-EEA citizen family members of those people would have received a Biometric Residence Card, which was different to a Biometric Residence Permit. All BRCs also expired on 31 December 2024.

EU/EEA citizens with Settled Status may use their EU/EEA identity cards to travel to the UK for life, provided that their ID card contains a biometric chip. There is no requirement for them to use a passport.