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Eunice Lam

All HKSAR and British National (Overseas) passport holders will have to pay 10 (HK$102) for the electronic travel authorization before traveling to the United Kingdom from January 8.

This came as the UK government announced on Tuesday that it is expanding the use of ETA to 49 more countries, including visa-exempt travelers from countries like the United States and Canada.

”Once fully rolled out, the ETA scheme will close the current gap in advance permissions and mean that for the first time, we will have a comprehensive understanding of those traveling to the UK,” said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

European nationals will be required to have an ETA to enter the UK from April 2 next year.

The ETA applies to all visitors to the UK, including babies and children, without a visa or permission to live, work or study, and those transiting through the country.

People with an ETA can stay in the country for up to six months for tourism, family visits, business or short-term study.

The UK government added ETA holders can enter the country “as many times as they want” during the two-year validity period.

But visa holders – including BN(O) visa – and people who have permission to live, work or study in Britain and those holding a British, Irish or a British overseas territories passport are waived from applying for the ETA ahead of their arrival in the UK.

People will have to re-apply for ETA if they get a new passport within the validity period.

Hongkongers can start applying for the ETA from November 27.

It normally takes three working days to get a decision and people can still travel to the UK while waiting for a decision.

However, people without the required ETA may be denied boarding by airlines.

The system was first introduced for Qatar nationals last November, followed by citizens from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan in February – though Jordan has now been removed from the scheme.

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com