The British government said last Tuesday that Portuguese nationals wishing to travel to the United Kingdom will require an Electronic Travel Authorisation, a document that will be required for all European nationals starting in April 2025.
The system requires pre-registration of biometric and personal data via an application and payment of a £10 (€12) fee.
The authorisation process may take up to three days, and it will be valid for two years, during which time the applicant may make as many as six-month-long trips to the United Kingdom.
Starting in 2025, the system will be made available to all tourists who do not require a prior visa for short stays, following a trial phase with select Arab nations.
Non-European visitors, including those from the US, Brazil, Macau, and Argentina, can begin registering on the 27th of November and must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) by the 8th of January.
Travellers from Europe, including Portugal, will be able to register on the 5th of March, and travel to the UK must begin on the 2nd of April 2025.
Since they share a similar travel region with the United Kingdom, foreign nationals residing in the Republic of Ireland and British residents abroad are exempt.
A criminal history or potential threat from terrorism, for example, could result in the ETA being denied.
The goal of digitising the UK's immigration and border processes includes this measure, according to a statement released today by the British Home Office.
Secretary of State for Home Affairs Seema Malhotra stated, "Digitalisation enables a smooth experience for the millions of people who cross the border every year."
Those with residency permits, such as those enrolled in the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), which was launched following Brexit, as well as visa workers and students, are exempt from this scheme.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which the European Union plans to put into effect in the first half of 2025, is comparable to the British system and is also utilised by nations including the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
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