The Home Office is considering charging EU citizens a fee to visit the UK.
The new scheme would further tighten restrictions on countries Britain had free movement with.
The move comes after The London Economic revealed the Home Office has been detaining and deporting EU citizens arriving in the UK.
According to The Independent, the scheme would be known as the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme, and would be similar to the US ESTA scheme, which costs £9.
About the new travel scheme
The digital visa system is set to be announced on Monday, 24 May.
Patel says it will help the government keep closer track of the number of people entering and exiting the country.
The American-like requirement would be demanded from all visitors without a visa or immigration status traveling Britain. This currently amounts to around 30 million people a year.
The EU is developing its own similar scheme, ETIAS, which is expected to apply to UK visitors to the bloc when it launches from 2022 because Britain decided to end free movement with the bloc.
ETIAS, which has been repeatedly delayed is anticipated to cost £6. Other countries outside the bloc, such as Norway and Iceland, with closer trade relationships with Brussels, are planned to be exempt from ETIAS.
The Home Office says the British scheme is expected to be in place from 2025.
“Potential threats”
Officials argue the new bureaucracy for travellers – which will see holidaymakers fill in extra forms ahead of their departure and wait for confirmation before being allowed to proceed with their journey – will make it easier for them to carry out automated and early security checks.
They say these are necessary to stop criminals from other countries arriving in the UK. Applicants will only be allowed to travel once their ETA has been approved, meaning spontaneous travel to the continent could become more difficult.
Ahead of the announcement of the new scheme, Patel said: “Now we have taken back control and ended free movement, security is at the very heart of our immigration strategy.
“Our new approach will make it easier to identify potential threats before they reach the border.”
Hostile environment
Over the last few weeks, the Home Office has sparked outrage multiple times.
Recently, it sent letters to elderly people and adults with dual nationality threatening their rights.
And NHS doctor Giuseppe Pichierri and his nurse wife are considering leaving the UK after his cousin was detained by the UK border force after arriving from the EU. Giuseppe spoke about the moments of “terror” that he and his family went through.
He told TLE:“A lot of people are actually wondering if this is a place that actually wants EU citizens.”
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