UK plans advance travel permit for visitors

The BBC has reported that the United Kingdom is planning to introduce a new permit in advance requirement for travellers entering the country.

The proposal forms part of a wider move towards what the Home Office describes as a fully digital border. According to the government, this approach is intended to strengthen security by preventing the entry of dangerous criminals and to improve the accuracy of arrival records.

The system, referred to as the Electronic Travel Authorisation System (ETAS), would mirror similar schemes already in place or planned elsewhere. These include the United States’ Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) and the European Union’s European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which is due to come into force next year.

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Under the UK proposal, non-citizens who are currently permitted to enter the country for short stays without a visa would be required to complete an online application prior to travel.

The information submitted through this form would be checked against security databases. Only travellers who have been cleared through this process would be allowed to proceed with their journey to the United Kingdom.