Beginning January 8, 2025 US passport-holders will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to visit the United Kingdom, which is comprised of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The ETA is also needed for passport holders from Canada, Australia and nearly 50 countries in total.
Photo credit: USEmbassy.gov
How to get an ETA
Visit the ETA website and pay online using credit/debit cards, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The cost is only £10 (around $13). It may be easier to do this on a mobile device as you may be requested to take a photo of your face or upload a recent picture – or perhaps even scan your face with your device’s camera. The website will begin taking ETA applications on November 27, 2024, the day before Thanksgiving.
Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute!
There is no “ETA on arrival” process and it may take three days to get your ETA approved so once your travel dates are set, go ahead and get the ETA. The ETA is valid for two years or until your passport expires and is good for unlimited entries.
Do I need something similar for the rest of Europe?
Not at this time (early November 2024). While it’s expected that Europe will require a European Travel and Authorization System (EITAS) later in 2025, it has not yet been implemented.
In the end
If you have plans to visit the UK on or after January 8, 2025, apply for your ETA before you leave. If you’re just connecting through London you should not need an ETA, but if something happened with your flights and you were forced to spend an overnight there, you would not be allowed to enter the country so it might be worth getting one anyway.
HT: Matador Network
2B Traveling 
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