The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will be mandatory for all visa-exempt travellers from February 25. Those without an ETA will not be able to board their flights and travel to the UK.
An ETA currently costs £16 (R347) and permits multiple entries for stays of up to six months at a time over two years. The ETA fee is currently under review and could be increased to £20 (R434) in the future.
How to apply for an ETA?
- Travellers can apply for an ETA through the ‘UK ETA app’, which can be downloaded from Google Play or the Apple App Store. They can also apply on GOV.UK.
- Applicants are advised to apply at least three working days in advance, however most applicants currently get an automatic decision within minutes when applying through the app.
- During the application, applicants will need to pay the fee, provide contact and passport details, provide a valid photo and answer suitability and criminality questions.
- Individuals must travel using the same passport they used when they applied for an ETA.
