The UK Home Office has issued a blunt warning—“No permission, no travel”—ahead of full roll-out of its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) on 25 February 2026. From that date, citizens of 85 visa-exempt countries, including Spain, must hold an approved £16 ETA before boarding any plane, ferry or Eurostar train bound for the UK.
The digital permit, valid for two years (or until passport expiry), is the centre-piece of London’s post-Brexit border-digitisation programme. Airlines and rail operators will be legally liable for fines if they let non-compliant passengers board, prompting carriers to fast-track API integrations and staff training.
![UK Issues Final Reminder: ETA Becomes Mandatory for Spanish Travellers from 25 February 2026]()
Spanish travellers who would prefer a hassle-free application experience can turn to VisaHQ, which offers a streamlined online service that guides applicants through each step, submits the ETA on their behalf and securely stores the authorisation for future trips—full details are available at https://www.visahq.com/spain/.
Business-travel groups warn that many occasional Spanish visitors remain unaware of the requirement. Corporate mobility teams are therefore updating booking workflows, adding automated ETA reminders and advising employees to apply at least 72 hours before departure to allow for potential manual checks. Dual nationals travelling on non-EU passports must also secure the permit.
Because the ETA shares data with other UK security databases, companies hosting Spanish executives in Britain should ensure invitation letters and event websites reference the new prerequisite to avoid last-minute boarding denials. While the system is expected to mirror the EU’s forthcoming ETIAS, it will go live several months earlier, forcing Spanish firms to juggle two separate pre-travel clearances for staff who cross the Channel regularly.
The digital permit, valid for two years (or until passport expiry), is the centre-piece of London’s post-Brexit border-digitisation programme. Airlines and rail operators will be legally liable for fines if they let non-compliant passengers board, prompting carriers to fast-track API integrations and staff training.
Spanish travellers who would prefer a hassle-free application experience can turn to VisaHQ, which offers a streamlined online service that guides applicants through each step, submits the ETA on their behalf and securely stores the authorisation for future trips—full details are available at https://www.visahq.com/spain/.
Business-travel groups warn that many occasional Spanish visitors remain unaware of the requirement. Corporate mobility teams are therefore updating booking workflows, adding automated ETA reminders and advising employees to apply at least 72 hours before departure to allow for potential manual checks. Dual nationals travelling on non-EU passports must also secure the permit.
Because the ETA shares data with other UK security databases, companies hosting Spanish executives in Britain should ensure invitation letters and event websites reference the new prerequisite to avoid last-minute boarding denials. While the system is expected to mirror the EU’s forthcoming ETIAS, it will go live several months earlier, forcing Spanish firms to juggle two separate pre-travel clearances for staff who cross the Channel regularly.
