The United Kingdom (UK) has introduced updated travel requirements for individuals seeking to enter the country.
The UK has also announced that citizens of countries like Nigeria, except British and Irish nationals, who wish to enter the UK, must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
These new regulations will come into effect on November 15, 2023, and will apply to all travellers, including children.
Under these new travel rules, all visa applicants intending to travel to the UK will need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) card before entering the country or transiting through it.
The UK Home Office has specified that individuals who require this travel permit include those who were previously eligible to visit the UK without a visa and are not already legally resident in the UK.
People visiting for periods shorter than six months, business travellers, tourists, and those visiting family and friends are also listed as requiring an ETA. Applicants will need to apply for this authorization online before making any travel arrangements to the UK. Once granted, the ETA will be valid for multiple journeys over two years or until the expiration of the passport used for the application.
The UK Home Office has emphasized that travellers with valid visas may not be allowed to board without a valid ETA, as the ETA will be digitally linked to the travellers’ passports.
