Great Britain has incorporated a new UK visa waiver system called eTA. Countries that are part of the EEC (European Economic Community) such as the Netherlands can apply online for UK eTA or Electronic Travel Authorization, which has the advantage of avoiding previous appointments at the embassy before traveling to the UK.
Continue reading to learn more about the UK visa waiver available to Dutch travelers.
When do Dutch citizens need a UK eTA?
The UK eTA for Dutch citizens is intended for short visits related to tourism, business, studies, or medical treatment.
The UK eTA visa waiver is valid for 6 months from the date of entry and allows Dutch citizens to stay up to 3 months in British territory.
The travel document is a type of single-entry visa waiver, which means that if Netherlands citizens use the authorization to enter the UK, upon their exit from the country they will need to apply for a new eTA to re-enter.
Depending on the purpose and duration of travel, Dutch citizens may need to apply for different types of UK visas, especially if the planned trip exceeds the 3 months allowed by eTA and if, for example, the trip is related to paid work, long academic studies, or permanent residence.
Important: eTA EWN is not the same as UK eTA. The former is reserved for certain Middle Eastern countries, while the latter is the necessary option for Dutch visitors.
UK eTA documents and requirements for the Netherlands
The requirements to obtain a UK eTA as Dutch travelers are:
This information may be requested at border controls when arriving in the UK, whether by plane, ship, or road.
On the day of travel, it will not be mandatory to carry health certificates from the Netherlands or additional documentation. It will only be necessary to show border control authorities the approved eTA and original passport.
Note: Dutch children traveling to the UK from the Netherlands must also have their own eTA like adults, and have the same requirements.
Netherlands citizens are reminded that exceeding the stay period granted under the UK visa waiver has legal consequences.
UK eTA online application form for Dutch citizens
Dutch visitors must submit the eTA online application form request before departing for the UK to obtain travel authorization.
The online application requires Netherlands travelers to submit certain personal and travel information through the electronic form. This includes the following:
Other information is needed regarding possible previous criminal offenses or dangerous behaviors of Dutch applicants. If Netherlands passengers indeed have criminal records, they must indicate this in the application.
All questions must be answered truthfully, as an error or false information can result in rejection or delays in UK eTA approval.
Once all questions are completed, the system will request payment of the visa waiver fee. Dutch citizens can pay via credit card, debit card, or PayPal account. This will be the last step before submitting the application form.
Processing time for Dutch visitors applying for UK eTA
The processing time to receive the UK eTA is up to 3 business days, although Netherlands citizens are advised to submit the application one week before the departure date to avoid last-minute inconveniences.
Once the request is approved, travel authorization will be sent via email to the Dutch citizen in PDF format. Passengers must print a paper copy of the UK visa waiver and keep it among their travel documents.
Traveling to the UK from the Netherlands
The best and fastest way to arrive in the UK from the Netherlands is by plane. There are direct flights every day that last just over an hour from Amsterdam to major UK cities, such as London, Manchester, Bristol, Belfast, or Liverpool, among others.
In case Dutch travelers wish to arrive by ferry, eTA is also required at UK border controls.
The ferry normally takes 1 hour and 45 minutes when purchasing a Dover-Dunkirk line ticket.