Tell your friends and neighbours! Belgian citizens and eligible European visitors who do not need a visa to travel to the UK for short stays of up to six months will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from 2 April 2025. The ETA is a digital travel permission to visit the UK that is being introduced to deliver a more streamlined and secure digital immigration system. Visitors can apply for an ETA from 5 March 2025.

Applying for an ETA is quick and simple. Most applicants get an automatic decision in minutes when applying through the UK ETA app, which means last-minute trips to the UK are still possible, although visitors are advised to allow three working days for a decision on their application. An ETA currently costs £10 and permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner. Note that there are proposed changes laid before the UK Parliament to increase the ETA fee from £10 to £16.

Brits and Irish

Dual citizens with British or Irish citizenship do not need an ETA to travel to the UK. They will need to prove their right to enter the UK by showing their British or Irish passport, or other passport showing a certificate of entitlement, which proves they have the right of abode in the UK. You do not need an ETA to transit through the UK if you are not passing through border control (aka ‘airside’ transit).

UK Ambassador Anne Sherriff said: “The introduction of the ETA scheme is in line with the approach many other countries have taken to border security and will help prevent the arrival of those who present a threat to the UK. It’s easy to apply for an ETA through the ‘UK ETA app’, which can be downloaded from the internet. You can also apply on the UK government website if you do not have access to a smartphone.”

The UK.GOV ETA website is here and you can  also download the app from that page.

Customs reminder

With the launch of the ETA scheme by the UK, the Belgian authorities took the opportunity to remind visitors from the UK about the post-Brexit customs regime with a series of checks on passengers disembarking from the Eurostar at Brussels-Midi station on Thursday 6 March. Many passengers were surprised by the drug and cash dog checks.

The rules are that anyone who buys goods worth more than €300 (€150 for under 15s) in the UK must declare them when they arrive in Brussels from the UK via Eurostar. This amount is lower than the €430 limit for travellers by ship or plane.

For tobacco products, the maximum that is tax-exempt is 200 cigarettes and for alcohol, anything over one litre of alcohol over 22% ABV must be declared. You can bring four litres of wine and 16 litres of beer - if you can carry it - duty free. Customs must also be notified of any cash amounts over €10,000.

Bringing meat, milk or dairy products is verboten and some types of souvenirs are also prohibited. Plants, including bouquets of flowers as one passenger on 6 March discovered, are also not allowed.

If you declare goods you must pay the appropriate duties and taxes that are based on the total purchase price including VAT. If goods are not voluntarily declared, a fine will be added.

EU version

At some point in 2025 the EU’s Entry/ Exit System (EES) and associated European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) system is scheduled to come into operation. This will apply to non-European residents wanting to visit the EU and some other countries.

The latest update from the Commission, endorsed by EU Home Affairs Ministers on 5 March, indicates that the EES is expected to become operational in October 2025 with the ETIAS expected to follow in the last quarter of 2026.

The EES is likely to be progressively introduced in 29 states (EU + Schengen) over a period of six months to give border authorities and the transport industry more time to adjust to the new procedures.

An ETIAS authorisation will last for three years (after which it will need to be renewed), or until the holder’s passport expires (whichever is sooner). An ETIAS is likely to cost €7 for people aged 18 to 70, but will be free for people aged under 18 or over 70.

More information here.