The United Kingdom's grand experiment in digital border control has hit a snag: the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system is down, leaving travelers unable to board planes, trains, or boats bound for Blighty without the required digital permission slip. As of Wednesday afternoon, the ETA app greeted users with the unhelpful message, "Sorry, the system is busy," while the website's digital queue stalled after advertising a wait of more than an hour. The British Home Office, the proud parent of this program, acknowledged "some customers are experiencing delays" and assured that technicians are working "round the clock" to fix it - presumably between cups of tea.
Since February, most visa-exempt travelers - including those from the United States, Canada, and most European countries - have needed this £20 (£27) authorization for short-term visits under six months, valid for two years. Normally, approvals take minutes, though applicants are advised to allow three days. Some travelers, in a shocking display of poor planning, wait until departure day to apply, and recent days have seen them stranded at departure gates. The Home Office didn't say when the outage began or when it might end, though on Wednesday afternoon, a lucky few received their approvals via notification, presumably after a long, digital staring contest.