Taiwan travelers need pre-travel permit for trips to, via U.K.

Taipei, Jan. 8 (CNA) Taiwanese passport holders are required to obtain a United Kingdom-issued electronic travel authorization (ETA) from Wednesday to visit or transit through the U.K., the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said.

Taiwanese travelers who have enjoyed visa-free visits to the U.K. since March 2009 need to have the new digitally issued travel document in order to enter the country, the ministry told CNA Wednesday.

According to the U.K. government website GOV.UK, the travel requirement is introduced in phases with the goal that all visitors to the country who do not need a visa will need an ETA by April 2025.

Taiwanese citizens, along with those from several visa-exempt countries, including the United States, have been able to apply for an ETA since Nov. 27, 2024, for trips up to six months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study.

An application for an ETA can be made online through the "UK ETA" app on Android or iOS devices, or through GOV.UK.

An ETA application costs £10 (US$12.47), whether it is approved or not, and usually takes three working days for a decision, but it can be longer than that.

If people need to go to the U.K. soon, they can "travel to the U.K. while waiting for a decision," the GOV.UK website on the ETA scheme states.

An ETA is valid for two years, but it does not guarantee entry to the U.K., because immigration officers at the U.K border have the final say, GOV.UK noted.

Similar travel requirements have been introduced for Taiwanese travelers by countries including Australia, which requires an Electronic Travel Authority, and the U.S., which has the Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

Meanwhile, no date has been announced for the rollout of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) for the Schengen area or Cyprus for a short stay, due to delays in the installation of equipment at some airports in the area, MOFA said.

Taiwanese travelers eligible for visa-free visits to the area can still do so, until the ETIAS is officially introduced, the ministry said.