The UK Home Office has published an updated Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) factsheet that confirms full, no-exceptions enforcement will begin on 25 February 2026. From that date, all non-visa nationals, including those simply transiting through UK passport control, must hold an approved ETA that is digitally linked to the passport they will present at boarding. Carriers—airlines, ferry operators and Eurostar—have now completed integration with Home Office databases and will carry out automated permission-to-travel checks before allowing passengers to board.
British and Irish citizens remain exempt, but the guidance stresses that dual nationals must show a valid British or Irish passport (or, in limited cases, a Certificate of Entitlement) if they plan to travel on a second nationality’s passport. The factsheet warns that an ETA is not a workaround for British dual nationals travelling on a foreign document; carriers will be instructed to refuse boarding if a match to UK citizenship cannot be verified.
The document also sets out fee policy: the current £16 charge will rise to £20 “in the near future”, although no exact date is given. Processing remains largely automated, with most decisions delivered in minutes via the UK ETA app, but officials still urge travellers to apply at least three working days before departure to cover occasional manual reviews.
![Home Office issues final ETA factsheet as 25 February enforcement date looms]()
Travellers looking for a simple way to secure their ETA can use VisaHQ’s online service, which walks applicants through every step and provides real-time status updates. Corporate travel managers can also batch-manage multiple requests through the same portal, reducing administrative burden. Full details are available at https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/
For employers moving staff to the UK on short-term visits and for travel managers coordinating multinational meetings, the immediate practical impact is that proof of ETA (or exemption) must be secured well in advance of ticketing. Human-resource departments are advised to audit existing travel plans—particularly for contractors and conference speakers who may assume visa-free access—to ensure that no employee is caught at the gate.
The publication marks the final communication milestone in the Home Office’s phased move toward a fully digital border. As of 25 February, the United Kingdom will join the United States, Canada and Australia in requiring electronic pre-authorisation for the vast majority of short-stay visitors—a step the government says will tighten security and reduce queues, but which also shifts risk and liability squarely onto carriers and corporate travel planners.
British and Irish citizens remain exempt, but the guidance stresses that dual nationals must show a valid British or Irish passport (or, in limited cases, a Certificate of Entitlement) if they plan to travel on a second nationality’s passport. The factsheet warns that an ETA is not a workaround for British dual nationals travelling on a foreign document; carriers will be instructed to refuse boarding if a match to UK citizenship cannot be verified.
The document also sets out fee policy: the current £16 charge will rise to £20 “in the near future”, although no exact date is given. Processing remains largely automated, with most decisions delivered in minutes via the UK ETA app, but officials still urge travellers to apply at least three working days before departure to cover occasional manual reviews.
Travellers looking for a simple way to secure their ETA can use VisaHQ’s online service, which walks applicants through every step and provides real-time status updates. Corporate travel managers can also batch-manage multiple requests through the same portal, reducing administrative burden. Full details are available at https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/
For employers moving staff to the UK on short-term visits and for travel managers coordinating multinational meetings, the immediate practical impact is that proof of ETA (or exemption) must be secured well in advance of ticketing. Human-resource departments are advised to audit existing travel plans—particularly for contractors and conference speakers who may assume visa-free access—to ensure that no employee is caught at the gate.
The publication marks the final communication milestone in the Home Office’s phased move toward a fully digital border. As of 25 February, the United Kingdom will join the United States, Canada and Australia in requiring electronic pre-authorisation for the vast majority of short-stay visitors—a step the government says will tighten security and reduce queues, but which also shifts risk and liability squarely onto carriers and corporate travel planners.
