United Kingdom: Online Travel Registration for Visa-Exempt Travelers Forthcoming

As a reminder, UK authorities remain committed to introduce an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme by 2024, similar to the U.S. ESTA system and the EU's forthcoming ETIAS system, requiring visa-exempt nationals to register online before travel. After successful registration, visa-exempt travelers will be checked upon entry using facial recognition systems, allowing entry without border checks or electronic passport gates. Travelers are expected to be subject to registration fees, although the government has not yet published fee amounts. News reports indicate that ETA registration may interact with the online electronic visa waiver application system (EVW II), currently available to visa-required citizens of Gulf states, but details on this interaction have not yet been published.