It is recommended that the application is made at least three days before travel, as although most authorisations are approved within hours, some may require more processing time. Once approved, the ETA will be valid for two years or until the expiry date of the passport, whichever comes first, and will allow multiple entries to the UK during its validity.
Travellers who hold an approved visa, are resident in the UK or hold an Irish passport will be exempt from applying for an ETA. In addition, those making a stopover in the UK without going through border control, such as at Heathrow and Manchester airports, will also not need this authorisation.
This new measure is part of the UK's strategy to modernise and strengthen its immigration control system, ensuring a more efficient and secure process for the millions of people who visit the country each year. It is estimated that around two million travellers from Spain will be affected by this regulation.
The British ambassador to Spain, Alex Ellis, has highlighted the importance of complying with this new requirement, stressing that it ‘simply aims to improve the management of security’ and reiterated that the UK ‘is delighted to continue to welcome travellers from Spain’, who ‘make a great contribution to the country’.
To facilitate the process, the UK government has made available to travellers a mobile app and an official website detailing the steps to follow to apply for the ETA. Travellers are advised to use only these official platforms to avoid possible fraud or additional charges by unauthorised intermediaries.
It is important to note that the ETA does not replace the passport, but is an additional requirement. Travellers will therefore be required to present both documents when entering the UK. In addition, those planning to stay longer than six months or for purposes other than those permitted by the ETA will need to apply for the appropriate visa.
This UK initiative is in line with global trends in migration control, where more and more countries are implementing electronic travel authorisation systems to improve security and efficiency at their borders. The European Union is expected to introduce a similar system for British citizens in the near future.
