It has been confirmed that tourists visiting Northern Ireland will need to sign up to the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme.
The scheme, which is similar to the visa waiver system used in the US, will see short-term non-visa visitors to the UK (including Northern Ireland) applying for an ETA and providing biometric data.
Speaking during Northern Ireland questions in the Commons, Tory former minister Tim Loughton said: “Does he acknowledge that if an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) exemption was granted for tourists, or indeed people claiming to be tourists, travelling from the Republic of Ireland, it would undermine the integrity of the whole scheme?”
Northern Ireland Minister Steve Baker replied: “He is right, and that is the Government’s policy. However, we have engaged closely with not only the tourism sector, but also our friends in the Irish Government on this issue.
“And I hope that we will be able to work together to ensure that there is a consistent and coherent communication strategy to ensure that tourists know that they must register for an ETA, that they must continue to comply with the UK’s immigration requirements.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar raised concerns in March about the implications of the new ETA on the tourist trade between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Irish citizens will not need an ETA to travel to Northern Ireland as they already have guaranteed free movement under the terms of the Common Travel Area however visitors flying into Dublin hoping to explore Northern Ireland will need to sign up to the scheme. It is not clear how the scheme will be policed between the Republic and Northern Ireland and how checks will take place.
