The United Kingdom government has announced a new entry requirement for Nigerians and other citizens, except British and Irish nationals, wishing to enter the country.
The new rule which becomes effective from November 15, requires all travelers to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
According to the UK Home Office, the ETA is a free online application that can be completed in minutes. Applicants must provide their personal information, travel details, and payment information and the ETA will be valid for two years and allows multiple entries into the UK.
The UK government said in a statement on Tuesday that the new requirement is necessary to improve border security and to make it easier to track visitors to the country. The government also says the ETA will help to deter illegal immigration.
The statement reads: “The UK travel requirements are changing. Except for British and Irish citizens, everyone, including children who enter or transit through the UK, will soon require permission before they travel.
“This means that if you were previously eligible to visit the UK without a visa and not already legally resident in the UK, you will need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), your stay must be shorter than six months and could include tourism or visiting family and friends, transit, business, and short term study.
“You do not need to show a paper copy, but it may be helpful to prove the confirmation email for your own records while an ETA grants you permission to travel to the UK, it does not grant you entry. So, you would still need to go through passport control at the border to enter the UK.
“Make sure you show the same passport you used to apply for your ETA and that your passport is valid for the whole of your stay.”
The new entry requirement is the latest in a series of measures that the UK government has taken to tighten immigration controls. In recent years, the UK has also introduced a points-based immigration system and a requirement for employers to check the immigration status of their employees.