We are US citizens taking Eurostar from Paris to London in July. When going through passport control in Paris….will we be required to have ETA for UK? We are a 3 gen family group traveling together. It will be costly for 11 of us! We are also taking a roundtrip cruise out of Southampton. Fly home out Heathrow. Will be traveling 2 to 2 1/2 weeks. When we read the ETA requirements…we are not working, or moving, or educational or making large purchases? We all have updated and renewed passports. Its says its linked to passport? Please help once again. Sorry for repetition. We seem to get mixed messages.
Posted by
Somerset, UK
84 posts
Yes, you each need an ETA
Posted by
Penzance
241 posts
When going through passport control in Paris….will we be required to have ETA for UK?
Yes. Otherwise you will be trying to enter the country illegally.
Posted by
PA
3138 posts
Yes, you need it, and it does link in their system to your passport. Go to the official website. You will physically be in the UK while traveling from St. P to Southampton, this is not an airside transfer where you have no option where you can go.
Posted by
Penzance
241 posts
We seem to get mixed messages.
The only message that counts is the message from HM Government which is at gov.uk
“An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) lets you travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man for up to 6 months.
You can get an ETA for tourism, visiting family or for certain other reasons.
An ETA costs £20. Apply for an ETA.
Other websites may charge more to apply. Avoid websites that imitate government services.
An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.”
This is also the only place you should go to to buy your ETAs.
Posted by
OP
593 posts
Thanks to all! Should have said my mixed messaging came from some other friends who travel. We now have clarity and will get on it!
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
4041 posts
It will be costly for 11 of us!
Not getting to leave Paris to get to your cruise would be even more costly - you will go through UK immigration at the Eurostar station in Paris.
You can apply for an ETA online using a computer or via the official app on a phone (app store links on this page https://www.gov.uk/eta/apply). Be double sure you're using the government approved websites and not a third party. I'd get going on that now especially if any of your group are technologically challenged (you need to take photos and scan passports). Once approved, the ETA is linked electronically to each passport number. I would suggest that everyone keep a copy of the email approval as backup.
Posted by
OP
593 posts
Yes it surely would….not doing that! Thank you!
Posted by
Chicagoland
2322 posts
And keep in mind your ETA will be valid for 2 years from date of approval. It might come in handy for future trips for some of your group.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
13547 posts
It will be costly for 11 of us !
Given what your 2.5 week trip entails, $300 is no more than a rounding error.
By the time you get done with getting acceptable photos into the system, you won't care about the fee; you will be elated to be done.
Posted by
OP
593 posts
Yes…those extra fees are part of travel. We had already planned on that! But…Then some second guessing happened!. Its why I love this forum…it saves us from some big and some small mistakes!