Avoid Visa Pitfalls: Official Links to Digital Visa and Travel Authorisation Applications for the UK, EU, and more

Normally, I include the official visa application links directly in my clients’ digital travel itineraries, but since these resources can help anyone avoid misleading sites, I’m sharing them here for everyone’s benefit.

Here’s a clear, trustworthy overview of the official links for digital visa/travel authorisation applications for five major destinations, including the USA, Canada, the UK, the EU, and Thailand.  

Official Links to Digital Visa and Travel Authorisation Applications for the UK, EU, and more

Europe

• If you are a non-EU passenger arriving at an airport in the EU, you may be selected for a brief biometric registration to enter the Schengen Area. Registration takes place in limited areas and outside peak times. If selected, please follow airport signs and staff instructions.
• The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) began its rollout in Italy on October 12, 2025, starting at airports like Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa, and expanding nationwide by April 2026. Non-EU travelers must now register biometric data (fingerprints and facial images) upon their first entry into a participating country, replacing passport stamps with digital records for stays up to 90 days in a 180-day period. This biometric data is stored for three years, streamlining future travel but potentially causing delays during the transition.

Thailand

• Official Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) from three days prior to departure.

United Kingdom (including Wales and Scotland)

• Official United Kingdom Entry Application (including Scotland and Wales) (ETA) via a mobile app.

United States of America

• Official ESTA application for travel to the United States (ESTA). Now also available via a mobile app. 

Canada

• eTA, the electronic travel authorization for Canada
• ArriveCAN App Advance Declaration to save time at the border when arriving in Canada.

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