The UK government has begun a worldwide information campaign warning that from 25 February 2026 passengers who turn up at airports or ferry ports without an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation will be denied boarding. In press releases and syndicated travel-industry pieces issued today, the Home Office stresses that the slogan “No permission, no travel” will be enforced for 85 visa-exempt nationalities, including the US, Canada and all EU countries.
Travel trade outlet Travel and Tour World reports that the campaign is designed to shift both the security burden and the customer-service pinch-point from the UK border to the point of departure. By obliging carriers to verify ETA status before a passenger sets foot on a plane or train, Border Force believes it will gain a clearer, earlier picture of who is seeking entry and will be able to refuse high-risk travellers long before they reach British soil.
Airlines have welcomed the clarity but warn of operational challenges. IATA spokespersons say carriers will have to update departure-control software, train check-in staff and brace for an uptick in denied-boarding disputes—particularly in the early weeks when leisure travellers may still be unaware of the rule. Business-travel managers are being urged to add the ETA check to booking workflows and traveller-tracking apps.
![‘No permission, no travel’: Home Office launches global media blitz ahead of ETA enforcement]()
For travellers and corporate mobility teams looking to stay ahead of the rule change, VisaHQ can handle the entire ETA application on their behalf. Through its dedicated UK page (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) the firm provides step-by-step online filing, bulk processing for companies and real-time status updates—making compliance with the Home Office’s “no permission, no travel” edict considerably easier.
For multinational employers the policy could prove disruptive. Short-notice trips from Paris to London that once required only a passport will now need a £16 digital authorisation. Unlike the US ESTA, the UK ETA remains valid for two years or until passport expiry, whichever is sooner, so travellers who renew a passport mid-cycle must apply for a fresh ETA.
Home Office officials insist the two-year soft-launch has provided ample warning, citing 13.3 million ETA approvals to date. Yet travel associations note that early adopters were overwhelmingly Gulf nationals; large cohorts of North American and European travellers are only learning of the requirement now. With Easter and summer peak seasons looming, the next three weeks will test whether the message has landed.
Travel trade outlet Travel and Tour World reports that the campaign is designed to shift both the security burden and the customer-service pinch-point from the UK border to the point of departure. By obliging carriers to verify ETA status before a passenger sets foot on a plane or train, Border Force believes it will gain a clearer, earlier picture of who is seeking entry and will be able to refuse high-risk travellers long before they reach British soil.
Airlines have welcomed the clarity but warn of operational challenges. IATA spokespersons say carriers will have to update departure-control software, train check-in staff and brace for an uptick in denied-boarding disputes—particularly in the early weeks when leisure travellers may still be unaware of the rule. Business-travel managers are being urged to add the ETA check to booking workflows and traveller-tracking apps.
For travellers and corporate mobility teams looking to stay ahead of the rule change, VisaHQ can handle the entire ETA application on their behalf. Through its dedicated UK page (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) the firm provides step-by-step online filing, bulk processing for companies and real-time status updates—making compliance with the Home Office’s “no permission, no travel” edict considerably easier.
For multinational employers the policy could prove disruptive. Short-notice trips from Paris to London that once required only a passport will now need a £16 digital authorisation. Unlike the US ESTA, the UK ETA remains valid for two years or until passport expiry, whichever is sooner, so travellers who renew a passport mid-cycle must apply for a fresh ETA.
Home Office officials insist the two-year soft-launch has provided ample warning, citing 13.3 million ETA approvals to date. Yet travel associations note that early adopters were overwhelmingly Gulf nationals; large cohorts of North American and European travellers are only learning of the requirement now. With Easter and summer peak seasons looming, the next three weeks will test whether the message has landed.
