Why it matters:
Visa requirements could affect tourism, business travel, and cultural exchanges, potentially reducing the flow of visitors and impacting sectors reliant on European travelers. The new system may lead to delays and complications at entry points.
Zoom in:
Citizens of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden must obtain a visa to enter the U.K..
Key points:
- ETA is a post-Brexit law.
- Hoteliers are anxious about reduction in visitor influx.
- Before Brexit, visitor influx to the U.K. was nearly 40 million annually.
- The number reached below 31 million in 2023.
Zoom out:
The U.K. Home Office has emphasized that even with a valid visa, British border officials may deny entry for various reasons.
Go deeper:
Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) was introduced on January 8 for 48 countries, including the U.S. and non-EU citizens. It was supposed to become mandatory from April 2, 2025. According to the law, short-term visits for tourism, work, or education, with stays of less than 6 months, cost £10.
Mohammad Kazemi
