Dutch commentator and far-right influencer Eva Vlaardingerbroek revealed on 15 January that the Home Office has cancelled her newly-issued Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), ruling that her presence is “not conducive to the public good”. The move, confirmed by a Home Office source, means she must obtain a visa – with the risk of refusal – before attempting to enter the United Kingdom again.
Vlaardingerbroek has spoken at rallies organised by British activist Tommy Robinson and promotes the “great replacement” conspiracy theory. Ministers have previously used exclusion powers against Islamist preachers and white-supremacist figures, but this is the first widely-reported case to hinge on the UK’s nascent ETA system, which became mandatory for European visitors in April 2025.
The decision drew criticism from former prime minister Liz Truss and Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe, who claimed it suppresses free speech. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán posted on X that Vlaardingerbroek was the victim of “woke intolerance”. Home Office officials counter that ETAs include the same security-grounds refusal provisions long applied to visas and that the bar for cancellation remains high.
![UK revokes ETA of Dutch far-right activist in high-profile test of new travel authorisation]()
For travellers who are unsure about their own eligibility or need help navigating the new authorisation requirements, VisaHQ’s UK portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) provides step-by-step guidance, document checklists and a streamlined interface for ETAs and all other UK visa categories. Individuals and corporate mobility teams can use the service to secure real-time status updates and expert support, reducing the risk of last-minute refusals or disruptions similar to Vlaardingerbroek’s case.
From a mobility perspective, the case underlines that ETAs are not a rubber-stamp and can be revoked without notice. Companies should advise employees and assignees that high-profile social-media activity may be screened and that tickets should not be booked until an ETA is granted. Carriers face fines if they carry a passenger whose ETA has been cancelled, so they are likely to step up pre-departure checks.
With full “no ETA, no travel” enforcement coming into force for all visa-waiver nationals on 25 February 2026, travel managers should update guidance notes and ensure that online booking tools prompt users to complete the authorisation process well in advance.
Vlaardingerbroek has spoken at rallies organised by British activist Tommy Robinson and promotes the “great replacement” conspiracy theory. Ministers have previously used exclusion powers against Islamist preachers and white-supremacist figures, but this is the first widely-reported case to hinge on the UK’s nascent ETA system, which became mandatory for European visitors in April 2025.
The decision drew criticism from former prime minister Liz Truss and Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe, who claimed it suppresses free speech. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán posted on X that Vlaardingerbroek was the victim of “woke intolerance”. Home Office officials counter that ETAs include the same security-grounds refusal provisions long applied to visas and that the bar for cancellation remains high.
For travellers who are unsure about their own eligibility or need help navigating the new authorisation requirements, VisaHQ’s UK portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) provides step-by-step guidance, document checklists and a streamlined interface for ETAs and all other UK visa categories. Individuals and corporate mobility teams can use the service to secure real-time status updates and expert support, reducing the risk of last-minute refusals or disruptions similar to Vlaardingerbroek’s case.
From a mobility perspective, the case underlines that ETAs are not a rubber-stamp and can be revoked without notice. Companies should advise employees and assignees that high-profile social-media activity may be screened and that tickets should not be booked until an ETA is granted. Carriers face fines if they carry a passenger whose ETA has been cancelled, so they are likely to step up pre-departure checks.
With full “no ETA, no travel” enforcement coming into force for all visa-waiver nationals on 25 February 2026, travel managers should update guidance notes and ensure that online booking tools prompt users to complete the authorisation process well in advance.
