Planning a Trip to Europe Next Year? You’ll Need to Register Online First

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WSJ Your Money Briefing 7 min 3 speakers 2 chapters transcribed 2 months ago
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Ad Reader 0:00
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J.R. Whalen 0:18
Here's your money briefing for Thursday, December 19th. I'm J.R. Whelan for The Wall Street Journal. Planning a trip to the UK in 2025? You'll need more than just your passport.
Allison Pohle 0:31
There has been a major focus on immigration and security. Officials are putting in place these automated biometric border controls to better improve their nation's security and find out more information about people before they enter the country.
J.R. Whalen 0:48
We'll talk with Wall Street Journal travel reporter Alison Pauley about what you need to know about applying for travel authorization. After the break.
Ad Reader 1:10
Access to affordable credit helps me pay my employees, but I don't really need it.
Unknown 1:15
The inflation is killing me. But who cares? Big retailers are making record profits. That's why we support the Durbin Marshall credit card bill.

Who is the guest and what new Europe/UK travel rule are we discussing?

Unknown 1:25
See?
Ad Reader 1:25
Banks and credit unions help small businesses make payroll. This bill would cut the vital resources they need.
Unknown 1:31
While increasing megastore profits. They deserve it, don't they?
Ad Reader 1:36
Tell Congress, stop the Durbin Marshall money grab for corporate megastores. Paid for by the Electronic Payments Coalition.
J.R. Whalen 1:48
Starting next year, Americans traveling to Europe will have to complete a mandatory online registration. Wall Street Journal travel reporter Alison Pauley joins me. Alison, which travelers will have to apply for this authorization?
Allison Pohle 2:02
Most travelers going to the UK and to Europe will have to apply for this authorization. So if you're somebody who's going on a vacation or going on a business trip, you will need to do this. Starting January 8th, travelers of all ages heading to the UK will need to apply for the authorization. Travelers heading to European countries have more time because the exact date for the authorization has not been announced yet.
J.R. Whalen 2:34
You said all ages. That includes children?
Allison Pohle 2:36
That includes children and babies. So their parents will need to do the authorization for them or their guardians or traveling companions.
J.R. Whalen 2:45
Why is this being put into place now?
Allison Pohle 2:46
This has been many years in the making, but it's taken a while for the technology to catch up. In Europe and in the UK, there has been a major focus on immigration and security. Officials are putting in place these automated biometric border controls to better improve their nation's security and find out more information about people before they enter the country.
J.R. Whalen 3:11
How much personal data will travelers be asked to provide?
Allison Pohle 3:14
When it comes to the UK authorization, and that's the one starting in January, you will need to download the app or go online and upload a picture of yourself as well as a picture of your passport. So that's something that would have been checked at the border anyways. In the past, you would have to scan your passport and a photo would be taken immediately. using facial recognition. So that's the same. But for Europe, beginning in 2025, travelers will need to have four of their fingerprints scanned and a photo of their face taken.
J.R. Whalen 3:50
You mentioned a website. Which website is that?
Allison Pohle 3:52
So for the UK, the website is applyforaneta.homeoffice.gov.uk. But you can also Google UK ETA app, and that should take you to the right place. So ETA stands for Electronic Travel Authorization.
J.R. Whalen 4:13
Is there a fee involved to register?
Allison Pohle 4:16
So for the UK, it's about 10 pounds or a little bit less than 13 US dollars. And for the European countries that will be using this, it's about seven euros. Though, again, that program hasn't been rolled out yet. So that's the number that's been thrown out in the past. But we'll see if it sticks.
J.R. Whalen 4:36
And what if a traveler doesn't want to be scanned?
Allison Pohle 4:39
This is the tough one. If you do not want to be scanned, you cannot enter the country. So this is not optional. Every single traveler who is required to have this authorization will have to go through the scanning process.

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