Hong Kong residents will start to get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) document from next year before they enter the UK.
According to the report, 83 jurisdictions have to get permits before they can be allowed to visit the country with £10 (HK$101.68) permit processing fees. The move is said to be part of the British government's plan to be stricter on border controls. The document is valid for two years and holders can travel to the United Kingdom as many times as they want during the period, once it is gotten.
The British government announced on Tuesday the implementation of the scheme was part of its efforts to digitise its border and immigration system.
“Digitisation enables a smooth experience for the millions of people who pass through the border every year, including the visitors we warmly welcome to the UK who are predicted to contribute over £32 billion to our tourism economy this year,” the country’s minister for migration and citizenship, Seema Malhotra said.
“The worldwide expansion of the ETA demonstrates our commitment to enhancing security through new technology and embedding a modern immigration system.”
However, in Hong Kong, a spokesperson from the travel department said on Wednesday that the move seemed not to have much impact on visitors from Hong Kong.
Non-Europeans from 49 places or countries, including Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders, can apply for an ETA from November 27, 2024, and will need one to travel from January 8 next year.
Europeans will also need an ETA from April 2 next year.
Visitors can apply through an official mobile app or website.
The government said decisions would be available within three working days and applicants could still head to the UK “while waiting for a decision”.
Those who already have a valid visa or permission to live, work or study in the country do not need an ETA, the report said.
According to the British Tourist Authority, the UK welcomed 256,000 visitors from Hong Kong last year.
從明年起，前往英國的香港遊客必須獲得 10 英鎊（101.68 港元）的電子旅行許可證才能訪問該國
香港居民明年起開始在進入英國之前獲得電子旅行授權（ETA）文件。
報告稱，83個司法管轄區必須獲得許可才能獲準訪問該國，並需支付10英鎊（101.68港元）的許可處理費。為兩年，一旦獲得，持有者可以在此期間多次前往英國。
英國政府週二宣布實施該計畫是其邊境和移民系統數位化努力的一部分。
英國移民部長表示：「數位化為每年過境的數百萬人提供了順暢的體驗，其中包括我們熱烈歡迎來到英國的遊客，預計他們今年將為我們的旅遊經濟貢獻超過 320 億英鎊」西瑪·馬爾霍特拉說。
“ETA 在全球範圍內的擴張表明了我們致力於透過新技術和嵌入現代移民系統來增強安全性的承諾。”
然而，香港旅遊部門發言人週三表示，此舉似乎對香港遊客沒有太大影響。
來自 49 個地方或國家的非歐洲人，包括香港和英國國民（海外）護照持有者，可以從 2024 年 11 月 27 日起申請 ETA，並從明年 1 月 8 日起旅行時需要一個。
歐洲人還需要從明年 4 月 2 日起獲得預計到達時間。
訪客可以透過官方行動應用程式或網站進行申請。
政府表示，決定將在三個工作天內做出，申請人仍可前往英國「等待決定」。
報告稱，已經持有有效簽證或在該國生活、工作或學習許可的人不需要預計到達時間。
據英國旅遊局稱，去年英國接待了25.6萬名香港遊客。
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