Immigration law firm Gherson LLP published a client alert on 18 February confirming the final details of three inter-locking border changes that take effect on 25 February 2026: (1) Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) enforcement for 85 visa-exempt nationalities, (2) mandatory eVisas replacing physical visa vignettes for most UK visit-visa holders, and (3) the dual-national passport requirement.
Under the eVisa roll-out, successful visitor-visa applicants must set up a UKVI digital account and link their passport before travel. An eVisa will be the sole proof of permission to enter; carriers will verify status via the Advance Passenger Information feed.
![eVisas and full ETA enforcement: what changes on 25 February and how employers should prepare]()
For companies or travellers who prefer a guided route through the new digital requirements, VisaHQ can manage ETA filings and eVisa registrations end-to-end. The firm’s UK platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) lets users upload documents, track progress in real time and receive automated renewal alerts, providing an extra safety net for mobility teams adapting to the “no digital permission, no travel” regime.
The alert warns mobility teams that staff on visit visas issued overseas before 25 February will still need to create an account and ‘claim’ their permission or risk being unable to board. HR systems that store vignette expiry dates should be updated to include eVisa validity and passport-linking status.
Companies hosting short-term conferences after 25 February should budget extra time for visa-national guests to activate their accounts and for non-visa visitors to obtain an ETA, which costs £16 and is valid for two years. Finally, travel-policy templates should be revised to spell out document requirements for British dual nationals and to highlight the certainty that ‘no digital permission, no travel’ will be strictly applied at check-in.
Under the eVisa roll-out, successful visitor-visa applicants must set up a UKVI digital account and link their passport before travel. An eVisa will be the sole proof of permission to enter; carriers will verify status via the Advance Passenger Information feed.
For companies or travellers who prefer a guided route through the new digital requirements, VisaHQ can manage ETA filings and eVisa registrations end-to-end. The firm’s UK platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) lets users upload documents, track progress in real time and receive automated renewal alerts, providing an extra safety net for mobility teams adapting to the “no digital permission, no travel” regime.
The alert warns mobility teams that staff on visit visas issued overseas before 25 February will still need to create an account and ‘claim’ their permission or risk being unable to board. HR systems that store vignette expiry dates should be updated to include eVisa validity and passport-linking status.
Companies hosting short-term conferences after 25 February should budget extra time for visa-national guests to activate their accounts and for non-visa visitors to obtain an ETA, which costs £16 and is valid for two years. Finally, travel-policy templates should be revised to spell out document requirements for British dual nationals and to highlight the certainty that ‘no digital permission, no travel’ will be strictly applied at check-in.
