KUALA LUMPUR: Starting tomorrow, travellers from 48 countries, including Malaysia, will require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the United Kingdom.
This new rule, aimed at enhancing border security, applies to short visits of less than six months for tourism, business, short-term studies, and permitted paid engagements.
Other countries on the list include the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.
EU citizens, however, will only need an ETA to enter the UK from April 2, with residents already living in the UK exempt from the requirement.
Similar to the US ESTA system, the ETA pre-clears travellers before their arrival.
Introduced last year for Gulf Cooperation Council nationals, the scheme is now expanding to non-European travellers, including six million annual visitors from countries such as the US, Canada, and Australia.
The ETA, valid for two years with multiple entries, is digitally linked to a traveller's passport.
If a new passport is issued within the two-year period, a new ETA application is required.
Applications cost £10 (about RM60) and must be completed online or via the official UK government app.
The process, which includes uploading a passport photo, scanning and photographing yourself, and answering travel-related questions, typically takes around 20 minutes.
Decisions are generally issued within three days, but travellers are advised to apply early to avoid delays.
While the ETA provides pre-clearance, final entry into the UK is subject to approval by Border Force officials at passport control.
To avoid extra charges or data security risks, travellers are encouraged to apply through official channels.