The UK Home Office has confirmed that—barring last-minute legislative delays—its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme will become mandatory for all visa-exempt visitors from 25 February 2026. The latest timeline, published by Business Wales, means airlines, ferry companies and coach operators serving routes from Ireland to Great Britain will have just seven weeks to integrate real-time ETA verification into their check-in systems.
Under Common Travel Area (CTA) rules, Irish citizens remain exempt, but non-EU nationals resident in Ireland—such as US, Indian or Brazilian assignees—will need prior digital clearance even when travelling via Dublin–Holyhead ferries or crossing the land border into Northern Ireland by bus. Carriers that transport passengers without a valid ETA face fines of up to £10,000 per traveller.
For individuals or companies wondering how best to stay on top of the new requirements, VisaHQ’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers step-by-step ETA processing, automated deadline reminders and expert support for bulk corporate submissions, helping travellers secure approval well before reaching the airport or ferry terminal.
![UK confirms 25 February go-live for mandatory ETA—Irish carriers prepare for new checks]()
Aer Lingus and Ryanair said they have begun staff training and system testing, while Bus Éireann confirmed it will require QR-code proof before boarding cross-border services. The Irish Travel Agents Association is calling for a public information campaign, noting that “many third-country nationals living legally in Ireland are unaware the new UK rules apply to them.”
From a corporate-mobility standpoint, the ETA introduces an additional compliance step for short-term business visits, intra-company meetings and trade-show attendance in Britain. Employers should update travel policies, reminding non-Irish employees to apply online (costing £10) at least 72 hours before departure. Reimbursement procedures may need adjustment to account for the new fee.
Looking ahead, UK ministers still intend to link ETA data with the forthcoming EU Entry/Exit System (EES) by late 2026, raising the prospect of fully digital border records for travellers shuttling between Ireland, Northern Ireland and mainland Britain.
Under Common Travel Area (CTA) rules, Irish citizens remain exempt, but non-EU nationals resident in Ireland—such as US, Indian or Brazilian assignees—will need prior digital clearance even when travelling via Dublin–Holyhead ferries or crossing the land border into Northern Ireland by bus. Carriers that transport passengers without a valid ETA face fines of up to £10,000 per traveller.
For individuals or companies wondering how best to stay on top of the new requirements, VisaHQ’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers step-by-step ETA processing, automated deadline reminders and expert support for bulk corporate submissions, helping travellers secure approval well before reaching the airport or ferry terminal.
Aer Lingus and Ryanair said they have begun staff training and system testing, while Bus Éireann confirmed it will require QR-code proof before boarding cross-border services. The Irish Travel Agents Association is calling for a public information campaign, noting that “many third-country nationals living legally in Ireland are unaware the new UK rules apply to them.”
From a corporate-mobility standpoint, the ETA introduces an additional compliance step for short-term business visits, intra-company meetings and trade-show attendance in Britain. Employers should update travel policies, reminding non-Irish employees to apply online (costing £10) at least 72 hours before departure. Reimbursement procedures may need adjustment to account for the new fee.
Looking ahead, UK ministers still intend to link ETA data with the forthcoming EU Entry/Exit System (EES) by late 2026, raising the prospect of fully digital border records for travellers shuttling between Ireland, Northern Ireland and mainland Britain.
