Global immigration law firm Fragomen has issued a client alert warning that the United Kingdom will enforce ETA rules “without discretion” from 25 February 2026. Travellers who require an ETA—and cannot prove exemption—will be denied boarding, not merely delayed at the border. The alert underlines the position of British-Irish dual citizens: once enforcement begins, they may not travel on a third-country passport unless they can show a current UK or Irish passport or a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode.
Fragomen notes that many dual citizens let their UK passports lapse during the pandemic. Passport renewals are currently taking up to six weeks, so anyone planning post-25 February travel should expedite applications immediately. The firm also reminds employers that an ETA is for visitors only; employees who will work—even for a few days—still require the correct work permission.
![Fragomen alert: dual nationals and employers must act before strict ETA checks begin]()
For travellers who need practical assistance securing the right travel authorisations, VisaHQ’s UK portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) offers an end-to-end service for ETAs, visas and even passport renewals. The platform guides users through requirements, flags common mistakes and tracks submissions in real time, giving both individuals and corporate mobility teams a single dashboard to monitor status and stay fully compliant.
For corporate mobility teams, the alert recommends a two-step compliance check: (1) confirm that visiting staff have the correct immigration status for the activities they will undertake, and (2) if they are visa-exempt visitors, confirm that an ETA has been approved and linked to the exact passport to be used. Failure at either step will see assignees stranded at their departure airport, with carriers facing fines and re-routing costs falling on employers.
Fragomen’s guidance aligns with the Home Office’s digital-first strategy but highlights very real transitional pain points: legacy HR databases that list nationality but not dual citizenship; employees unaware of their own status; and tight event timelines that leave no buffer for ETA refusals. The firm urges companies to ‘over-communicate’ with travelling staff in the run-up to 25 February and to budget extra time for document verification on multi-jurisdiction itineraries.
Fragomen notes that many dual citizens let their UK passports lapse during the pandemic. Passport renewals are currently taking up to six weeks, so anyone planning post-25 February travel should expedite applications immediately. The firm also reminds employers that an ETA is for visitors only; employees who will work—even for a few days—still require the correct work permission.
For travellers who need practical assistance securing the right travel authorisations, VisaHQ’s UK portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) offers an end-to-end service for ETAs, visas and even passport renewals. The platform guides users through requirements, flags common mistakes and tracks submissions in real time, giving both individuals and corporate mobility teams a single dashboard to monitor status and stay fully compliant.
For corporate mobility teams, the alert recommends a two-step compliance check: (1) confirm that visiting staff have the correct immigration status for the activities they will undertake, and (2) if they are visa-exempt visitors, confirm that an ETA has been approved and linked to the exact passport to be used. Failure at either step will see assignees stranded at their departure airport, with carriers facing fines and re-routing costs falling on employers.
Fragomen’s guidance aligns with the Home Office’s digital-first strategy but highlights very real transitional pain points: legacy HR databases that list nationality but not dual citizenship; employees unaware of their own status; and tight event timelines that leave no buffer for ETA refusals. The firm urges companies to ‘over-communicate’ with travelling staff in the run-up to 25 February and to budget extra time for document verification on multi-jurisdiction itineraries.
