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UK enforces travel permit requirements on foreign visitors

The UK Interior Ministry announced that, starting Wednesday, visitors from 85 countries will need to obtain a 'electronic permit' in advance of their trip or they may be denied entry.

Electronic Travel Authorisation Scheme (ETA) requires that all visitors to Britain who don't need a Visa purchase a pretravel permit on the internet for a?cost? of 21.57 pounds (16 pounds).

The law was implemented in 2023, and it was extended to European visitors in April of last year. However, the law has not been strictly enforced.

From February 25, it will be mandatory that all visitors to the UK have an ETA before travelling.

The interior ministry stated that this'means airlines will not allow passengers to board if they do not have a valid ETA, eVisa, or other documentation.

British and Irish nationals, including dual-citizens, as well as those with the right of residence in the UK are exempted from the need for an ETA.

The ETA scheme, according to migration minister Mike Tapp, is a crucial part of the?work we do to improve border security in the UK. It helps to provide a more modern and efficient service for both 'visitors' and the British people.

The European Union (EU), after much delay, began implementing its post-Brexit security checks at the border for UK citizens entering?the EU in?October of last year. Britain will officially leave the EU in 2020.

The EU's Entry/Exit System eliminates the need to manually stamp passports and creates digital records at external EU borders.

Travellers have complained that the introduction of this new system has caused delays in some airports. Industry leaders are concerned about a possible disruption if it is fully implemented at Easter.

(source: Reuters)