2025-9-6

以前在英國的時候，知道大英帝國早已經沒有了製造業，靠銀行、旅遊和文化輸出過話。

最近想帶小不點兒去英國開會，機票和旅館都訂好了，臨行前幾個星期，突然被告知還要申請電子簽證Electronic Travel Authorization（ETA），是從2025年1月8號開始，申請費是10英鎊，而到了4月8號以後，大概是嘗到了甜頭，申請費變成了16英鎊。

• U.S. citizens now need a UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for short visits to the United Kingdom, including for tourism or business, effective January 8, 2025. You can apply for an ETA online or through the official UK ETA app before you travel, and the application costs £10. The ETA is digitally linked to your passport and is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. 

這樣的買路錢，開始只是對美國人對等收，後來對歐盟國家也開始徵收了。

• As of April 2, European Union citizens join travelers from 48 countries around the world now required to have Electronic Travel Authorisation to enter the UK. Previously, travelers from the EU could hop on a plane and simply present themselves at passport control on landing. Now, travelers who don’t need a visa to enter the UK must get pre-travel authorization via the new digital registration scheme.

看起來這日不落帝國，真的是入不敷出，日薄西山了。