From 25 February 2026, the UK will fully enforce its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirement for all travellers from visa-free countries. This means you cannot legally travel to the UK (including by flight, ferry, Eurostar, or Eurotunnel) without an approved ETA in advance. Prior to this date there was a transition/grace period where enforcement was flexible — after this date it is hard-stop mandatory.

This means visitors from around 85 nationalities will not be able to legally travel to the UK without an ETA from 25 February 2026.

• ETA stands for Electronic Travel Authorisation, a digital permission linked to your passport allowing you to travel to the UK without a visa for short stays (e.g., tourism, family visits, business). It is not a visa but a pre-travel check.

• It’s similar to systems used by other countries, for example the U.S. ESTA or the forthcoming EU ETIAS for visitors to the Schengen Area.

This change affects citizens of countries that previously enjoyed visa-free travel to the UK, including major travel markets such as:

• 🇪🇺 European Union / EEA citizens (except Irish due to UK-Ireland Common Travel Area)

• 🇺🇸 United States

• 🇦🇺 Australia

• 🇨🇦 Canada

• 🇯🇵 Japan

• and many others (around 85 countries in total) click here for the full list of countries this applies to.

Anyone from these visa-exempt countries must have a valid ETA before departing for the UK, including for short visits, transit, or stopovers.

Exceptions:

• British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA.

• Those holding a valid UK visa/eVisa also don’t need it.

🚫 Before You Board

From 25 Feb 2026, airlines, ferries, and train operators will refuse boarding if you do not have a valid ETA. They will be legally required to check before departure, not at the UK border.

📍 At The Border

Even if you somehow reach the UK border without an ETA, Border Force officers will refuse entry. There will be no discretionary leniency.

💸 Fees & Process

• The ETA is applied for online before travel.

• The current fee is £16 per application.

• Once approved, an ETA is typically valid for multiple trips for up to two years.

The UK government’s stated aims are:

🔐 Enhance Border Security

By checking travellers before they depart for the UK, the Home Office can screen for security risks, criminal histories, and immigration concerns, improving safety and planning.

📲 Digitise The Border

This is part of a broader shift toward digital border controls, reducing manual passport stamping, speeding up arrival processes, and integrating systems with carriers.

✈️ Align With Global Trends

Countries around the world are adopting similar pre-travel authorisations:

• U.S. ESTA has required this for many nationals for years.

• The EU ETIAS system is due to start in late 2026 for visa-free travellers to the Schengen Zone.

✔️ Apply for an ETA well before travel, ideally at least a few days ahead in case of delays.
✔️ Check if your passport requires one, if you’re from a visa-free country, you almost certainly do.
✔️ Use only the official application system, beware of scam sites charging excessive fees (reports show travellers have been misled by unofficial services).

To apply for an ETA click here.