Starting in November, Scotland will be tightening its grip on international arrivals by expanding its electronic travel authorization (ETA) requirement. This means that most international travelers visiting Scotland without a visa will need to obtain an ETA before setting foot in the country.
The ETA scheme, introduced by the Conservative government last November, initially applied to visitors from a select group of countries, including Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Visitors from these nations were required to obtain an ETA costing £10 before entering or transiting through the UK.
However, the new expansion, announced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, will significantly broaden the scope of the ETA requirement. Starting in November, most countries will be included, with only European nationals exempt from the requirement. This change will affect a large number of travelers, making the ETA a crucial step in the journey planning process for many visitors to Scotland.
The deadline for the full implementation of the ETA is set for January 8, 2025, when all international visitors flying into Scottish airports, including Edinburgh and Glasgow, will need to have secured an ETA for entry. For European nationals, the ETA will be enforced from March 2025, with a mandatory requirement taking effect on April 2, 2025.
The Scottish government states that the ETA system is designed to strengthen border security by conducting enhanced checks before travelers even begin their journey to the UK. Linked digitally to a passport, an ETA allows its holder to make multiple visits to the UK for up to six months at a time over a two-year period, or until their passport expires.
The Home Office maintains that this system will help reduce the risk of immigration abuses and enhance security at the UK’s borders.
However, the implementation of the ETA scheme has not been without controversy. Heathrow Airport reported a significant reduction of 90,000 in transfer passenger numbers on routes affected by the ETA requirement since its launch. The airport criticized the system as detrimental to its competitive edge as a global travel hub, calling on the government to review the policy, particularly concerning airside transit passengers.
Adding to the complexity, Yvette Cooper also announced a new visa requirement for Jordanian nationals following breaches of visitor rules. Effective immediately, from 3 pm on Tuesday, Jordanian visitors will no longer be eligible to travel to the UK with an ETA and will need a visa to enter the country.
As the implementation of the expanded ETA nears, travelers planning trips to Scotland should be aware of these new requirements and ensure they have the necessary documentation before traveling.
