Travelers beware: You will need to pay to enter the UK from April 2025

From early April next year, EU nationals living in Czechia and some people from outside the EU will need to pay to enter the UK as part of newly changing travel rules around the continent. They will apply online for what is known as an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).

This comes amid two other major developments to travel in Europe that will affect how millions of people enter and exit Czechia – including residents. These are the introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). Notably, the EES is set to come into force in just under seven weeks.

The ETA and ETIAS apply to all types of cross-border travel.

Here’s what you need to know about the three different types of authorizations and schemes.

It is an electronic authorization for both EU citizens and third-country nationals to enter the UK. The British government this month announced full details about its implementation.

The UK is among the most popular destinations from Prague Airport; with large sums of British tourists visiting Czechia every year, this may shake up the tourism industry in Czechia. It also means you’ll need to pay more for your stay on the British Isles.

It affects both EU and non-EU citizens. However, non-EU citizens will need to apply for an ETA sooner. People from some countries, such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia, currently need one.

Certain eligible (those with a legitimate right to enter the country) non-EU citizens will need an ETA to travel into the UK from Jan. 8, 2025, while EU citizens will need an ETA to enter the UK from April 2, 2025.

Those eligible can apply for an ETA via the UK’s ETA app available on iOS and Android, or online at the UK's Home Office website.

The cost is GBP 10 (around CZK 300) for all nationals.

The UK government’s website claims that it takes three working days to get an ETA.

Two years.

The EES is a new digital system designed to automate passport stamping and visa checks at the borders of 29 European nations. Its primary goal is to modernize border control processes, improve security measures, and simplify the travel process for millions of travelers.

It will mean anyone travelling to and from most European countries without an EU passport will need to have their biometrics — fingerprints and photograph — captured and then checked on every visit.

The EES will apply to all non-EU nationals traveling to any of the 29 participating countries for short stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). This includes tourists, business travelers, and those visiting friends and family. 

The EU recently announced that its implementation date will be Nov. 10, 2024. However, the EU says delays in implementation are possible.

The EES is not designed to monitor EU nationals (or their family members) within the EU.

The ETIAS will require non-EU nationals who are tourists to obtain online pre-travel authorization in the form of a digital certificate if traveling to a country outside the Schengen area. 

The purpose of this system is to pre-screen individuals traveling from visa-exempt countries prior to their arrival in Europe, thereby enhancing security measures.

ETIAS will apply to travelers from over 60 countries who currently do not require a visa for short stays in Europe – this applies to the UK and the U.S., for example. If you already need a visa to enter Europe, the ETIAS system will not affect your travel requirements.

If you are an EU citizen and you’d like to visit a country outside the Schengen area – such as the UK or Serbia, for example – you will also need to pay for the digital certificate.

You will need to apply for digital authorization on an official EU website before traveling.

According to the EU, most applicants for the virtual authorization will receive their certificate “within minutes,” but in some cases, the process “may take up to 30 days.” To apply, you will need to pay EUR 7 (CZK 172) and possess a travel document that is recognized by European countries.

It is valid for three years.

The EU has not yet announced an official date. It is set to be implemented around the middle of 2025.