UK travel industry warns of summer chaos as EU biometric border checks ramp up
Home Office reinstates migrant-worker sponsor licences for firms previously penalised for abuse
Mandatory UK ETA enters final countdown, forcing tourism sector to rethink last-minute travel
Latest News
China grants 30-day visa-free entry to UK nationals, opening new era for bilateral travel
Beijing has introduced 30-day visa-free entry for British passport holders, effective immediately, following high-level talks between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Xi Jinping. The policy is expected to boost UK–China tourism, accelerate business trips and symbolically reset bilateral relations that have been strained for years.
UK Home Office confirms full switch to digital visas and ETA enforcement from 25 February 2026
From 25 February 2026 the UK will end the soft-launch of its Electronic Travel Authorisation and abolish physical visa vignettes. All non-visa nationals will need an ETA, all visitor visas will be digital and linked to a UKVI account, and British dual nationals must travel on a UK passport. Businesses should update travel policies immediately to avoid boarding refusals.
‘No permission, no travel’: Home Office launches global media blitz ahead of ETA enforcement
The Home Office has begun a global publicity drive hammering home that from 25 February travellers without a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation will be turned away at the gate. Airlines and employers must integrate the ETA check into boarding and booking systems to avoid last-minute refusals.
Zero-migration scenario would shrink UK economy by 3.6 % and blow £37 billion hole in budget, says NIESR
A new NIESR analysis warns that driving net migration to zero would cut UK GDP by 3.6 % and add £37 billion to the deficit by 2040, highlighting the economic risks of ever-tighter visa policies. Employers are urged to feed evidence into ongoing Home Office consultations.