Over the past 15 years, more than 17 countries he adopted electronic trel authorizations (ETAs, ESTAs, ETIAS), transforming the way millions cross borders.
Once used mainly by early adopters such as Australia and the United States, ETAs are now spreading rapidly.
The United Kingdom began rolling out its own system in 2023, the European Union will require ETIAS for short stays from 2026, and even Thailand has announced plans to launch one soon.
Awareness, though, hasn’t caught up. According to our 2025 global processing data, 26.8% of ETA applications are submitted less than 48 hours before a flight. In other words, thousands of trelers only realize they need an ETA during check-in or just before boarding. And sometimes that’s too late.
ETAs are quietly becoming the standard for international entry. But what exactly are they, and what does their rise mean for the future of visas?
What is an ETA? What is the difference between an ETA and a Visa?An electronic trel authorization (ETA) is a digital permit required by trelers from visa-exempt countries before boarding a plane. Unlike a traditional visa, which can take weeks to apply for, process, and usually requires supporting documents, interviews, or even embassy visits, ETAs are designed to be fast, inexpensive, and entirely online.
They are typically valid for short-term stays, such as tourism, transit, or business trips. Once approved, they are electronically linked to a treler’s passport and checked automatically at immigration.
It’s crucial to distinguish ETAs from other trel documents:
Visa: a whole application process, often involving paperwork, biometric collection, embassy visits, and long waits. eVisa: essentially a digital version of a visa, still requiring more documentation than an ETA, and usually with a higher price point. ETA: a lighter, faster, pre-screening tool, not as hey as a visa, but no longer the “walk right in” freedom of visa-free trel.In practice, this means that trelers who once needed nothing to visit countries like Canada or the UK must now apply, pay a fee, and secure pre-approval before flying.
Countries that he required an ETA for more than 5 years: Australia (ETA since 1996) United States (ESTA launched in 2009) Canada (ETA since 2016) New Zealand (NZeTA since 2019) Recent rollouts: United Kingdom: phased introduction started in 2023; mandatory for all visa-exempt trelers by 2024 Korea: K-ETA launched in 2021. Although it is not yet mandatory for all visa-exempt trelers, plans are in place to extend it to all by 2026.It’s common for new ETA systems to face rollout delays. The South Korea K-ETA was initially planned to include all visa-waiver countries in 2024, but that expansion has been postponed until at least the end of 2025. The EU’s ETIAS has also been delayed several times and is now expected to launch in 2026.
Upcoming trel authorizations Sri Lanka ETA: To be required from October 2025 ETIAS (European Union): Planned rollout in 2026 Other countries developing or planning ETAs Thailand: unconfirmed rollout timeline that could be as early as late 2025 South Africa: to be released in 3 stages, with the first pilot test happening as early as October 2025. Japan: Officially announced plans for an ETA, with launch details still pending South Korea K-ETA: Expansion to all visa-waiver countries expected in 2026By 2026, more than 36 destinations are projected to require ETAs. For millions of trelers, “visa-free” will no longer mean “paperwork-free.”
Governments frame ETAs as a tool for modernization. Their official justifications typically include:
Security: ETAs allow authorities to pre-screen trelers for risks such as criminal records or health concerns. Efficiency: Processing trelers digitally before arrival reduces wait times at airports. Revenue: ETAs usually involve a small application fee, £16 for the UK ETA, or $7 CAD for Canada’s ETA. However, costs can rise: the US ESTA recently increased from $ 14 to $40 USD.Some governments even tie ETAs to tourism levies, like New Zealand’s International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, which raises additional funds.
The treler’s frustration: backlash and resistanceWhile governments emphasize efficiency and security, many trelers view ETAs as an unnecessary new hurdle, especially when applied to countries that previously required no documentation for short stays.
On social media, backlash is growing. When the United Kingdom began its ETA rollout in 2023, some trelers complained that they would “skip the UK” altogether rather than pay the £16 fee or nigate the application portal.
Similar frustrations he surfaced around the EU’s upcoming ETIAS, with people asking why they should pay and apply for access to countries that once welcomed them visa-free.
Common complaints about new ETAs and trel authorizations include:
Extra cost: Even small fees ($7–$40) add up for families or frequent trelers. Clunky portals: Application websites can be unfriendly, prone to technical issues, and not always ailable in multiple languages. Payment barriers: Not all systems accept global payment methods, excluding trelers without credit cards. Last-minute surprises: Many trelers only discover the requirement at the airport, leading to missed flights and added stress.“ETAs were designed to make border entry faster, but if they’re implemented poorly, they risk being seen as barriers. Countries need to balance security with accessibility; otherwise, they may discourage the very visitors they want to attract,” explains Did Perez, our iVisa co-founder.
So, are traditional visas disappearing, or simply evolving? The answer lies somewhere in between. ETAs are likely to dominate short-term trel for tourism, business, and transit. At the same time, traditional visas will remain essential for passport holders from countries with a higher risk of overstaying, as well as for work, study, migration, and other high-security categories.
By 2030, Did predicts that “visa-free trel” will look very different from today. Most countries are expected to require some form of pre-authorization, meaning that for the majority of global trelers, accurate visa-free entry may no longer exist.
ETAs are here to stay, and their global spread is accelerating. However, whether they become a symbol of smarter, smoother trel or a digital barrier that frustrates and excludes depends on how governments implement them.
“The future of trel isn’t about stamping passports. It’s about digital systems, and whether they empower or restrict global mobility will define the next era of border control,” says Did.