UK introduces new travel authorization requirement, raising Yalies’ study abroad costs
Visitors — including those studying abroad over the summer — will need to submit information and pay 10 pounds to gain electronic travel authorization to enter the UK.

Anvay Tewari
Many Yalies planning to study abroad in the United Kingdom this summer will now need to apply for approval before entering the country. On Jan. 8, the United Kingdom introduced an “electronic travel authorization” requirement for visa-exempt foreigners.
According to the U.K. Home Office, the program is intended to improve border security by increasing government knowledge about visitors and preventing the arrival of those who present a threat. Most applicants receive an automatic reply in minutes but it can take up to three business days.
Kelly McLaughlin, the director of study abroad at Yale, said while he is confident about the speed of the application process, he advises students to apply at least a week before their trip.
“Anecdotally, we are hearing that many who have applied for the ETA received approval the same day, so we’re hoping for little to no disruptions with this new process in place,” he said. “Again, though, we’ll encourage Yale students to apply early and not to count on same-day approval.”
To obtain an ETA, visitors need to add contact and passport information, provide a valid photo, and answer a set of questions in the U.K. ETA app. Those without a smartphone can use the government website.
Citizens of certain visa-exempt countries — including the United States — can begin applying for an ETA now, and the requirement will be applied to European nationals beginning in April.
“It’s obvious that a country wants to know more about people just to make it safer from terrorist attacks,” said Viktoriia Moroz ’28, a business staffer for the News who plans to spend her summer in London. “To apply for a visa, you have to go through security checks, so people who don’t require a visa also have to be forced to give at least some information.”
Callum Legendre ’28, who is from the United Kingdom, said the new program makes the United Kingdom safer in theory.
However, he doesn’t think border security “can really get much safer.”
“They’re going to have to go through security getting on the plane,” he said. “My impression of living there the last few years, all of the terror attacks that have happened in the U.K. have been domestic terrorism.”
The application also requires a 10-pound fee, the equivalent of $12.
McLaughlin said that the International Study Award program is contemplating whether to add this cost to its budget. However, he said there is already a general category for miscellaneous study-abroad spending.
Modhupa Tsali ’28, who plans to study at the London School of Economics over the summer, said the fee shouldn’t make a big difference, especially compared to other expenses of studying abroad.
“In order to apply to LSE, they already charged us 50 pounds,” she said. “10 pounds isn’t that much on top of that.”
Legendre added that while the fee is “annoying,” he understands that the costs of maintaining the servers and paying those who look over the files aren’t free.
Applications for the Yale in London program are due March 4.