The Home Office has confirmed that the United Kingdom will make its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system compulsory for all visa-exempt travellers as of 25 February 2026. Announced over the weekend, the policy means nationals of 85 countries—including the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and EU member states—must obtain a £16 digital permit before boarding transport to the UK.
The decision is the final stage in the UK’s post-Brexit plan to digitise the border. Carriers will be required to verify that each passenger has an approved ETA or an e-Visa before departure, bringing the UK into line with the US ESTA and forthcoming EU ETIAS schemes. The Home Office says more than 13 million visitors have already used the voluntary system since its soft launch in 2023, with most applications approved automatically within minutes.
![UK to Make Electronic Travel Authorisation Mandatory for Visa-Free Visitors from February 2026]()
For business-travel managers the change has dual implications. On the one hand, pre-clearance should shorten queues at busy hubs such as Heathrow and Gatwick, improving the experience for high-value travellers. On the other, corporates will need new compliance checks; passengers who forget to apply risk denied boarding, missed meetings and expensive re-routing. Travel-management companies are advising clients to integrate ETA reminders into booking workflows and traveller apps well ahead of the February 2026 enforcement date.
UK policymakers frame the ETA as a security tool that allows authorities to screen visitors against watch-lists before they reach British soil. Privacy campaigners warn that the centralised database could create new surveillance risks, while inbound-tourism bodies fear an initial learning curve may deter spontaneous trips. Nevertheless, most analysts expect the UK’s move to accelerate a global shift toward algorithm-driven border controls, with governments trading a small administrative burden on carriers and travellers for faster, more predictable entry procedures.
Practical tips: frequent travellers should download the official ETA app and store passport details in advance; dual UK/Irish nationals should travel on their British passport to avoid confusion; and corporates should keep proof of ETA approval on file to satisfy duty-of-care obligations.
The decision is the final stage in the UK’s post-Brexit plan to digitise the border. Carriers will be required to verify that each passenger has an approved ETA or an e-Visa before departure, bringing the UK into line with the US ESTA and forthcoming EU ETIAS schemes. The Home Office says more than 13 million visitors have already used the voluntary system since its soft launch in 2023, with most applications approved automatically within minutes.
For business-travel managers the change has dual implications. On the one hand, pre-clearance should shorten queues at busy hubs such as Heathrow and Gatwick, improving the experience for high-value travellers. On the other, corporates will need new compliance checks; passengers who forget to apply risk denied boarding, missed meetings and expensive re-routing. Travel-management companies are advising clients to integrate ETA reminders into booking workflows and traveller apps well ahead of the February 2026 enforcement date.
UK policymakers frame the ETA as a security tool that allows authorities to screen visitors against watch-lists before they reach British soil. Privacy campaigners warn that the centralised database could create new surveillance risks, while inbound-tourism bodies fear an initial learning curve may deter spontaneous trips. Nevertheless, most analysts expect the UK’s move to accelerate a global shift toward algorithm-driven border controls, with governments trading a small administrative burden on carriers and travellers for faster, more predictable entry procedures.
Practical tips: frequent travellers should download the official ETA app and store passport details in advance; dual UK/Irish nationals should travel on their British passport to avoid confusion; and corporates should keep proof of ETA approval on file to satisfy duty-of-care obligations.
