The UK Government has said the new requirement would be smooth, light-touch, and would aim to “strengthen our border”. The scheme, which is similar to the visa waiver system used in the US, would result in short-term non-visa visitors to the UK applying for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and providing biometric data. Irish citizens do not need an ETA to travel to Northern Ireland as they already have guaranteed free movement under the terms of the Common Travel Area. But non-Irish EU citizens and other international passport holders, including those who live permanently south of the border, would have had to apply for the visa waiver. The UK Government said in a statement that “individuals arriving in the UK via Ireland, will still be subject to UK immigration requirements, including the need for visitors to have an ETA”.

Source: The Herald March 09, 2023 22:14 UTC