UK introduces mandatory Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for all visa-exempt visitors from 25 February 2026

The United Kingdom has confirmed that, from 25 February 2026, every visitor who is *currently* able to enter the country visa-free will instead have to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before being allowed to board a plane, train or ferry bound for the UK. The ETA, which costs £16 and is valid for up to two years, is a fully digital permission linked to the traveller’s passport. Airlines and other carriers will be required to run a real-time check of every passenger’s ETA status at check-in—anyone who has not been cleared in advance will be denied boarding under the government’s “no permission, no travel” regime. British and Irish nationals, as well as people who already hold a UK visa or immigration status, are exempt. For business-travel managers the change is significant: large multinationals will need to audit mobility policies, update pre-trip workflows and budget for the new fee. Employee-travellers from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and most Gulf states—all previously visa-free—will now require an ETA even for a one-day meeting. Carriers that fail to verify ETA compliance face civil penalties, meaning corporates can expect stricter document checks at overseas departure points.



VisaHQ, a global visa and passport services platform, can help streamline ETA compliance for both individual travellers and corporate mobility teams. Its dedicated UK portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) offers real-time application tracking, automated reminders, bulk-application tools and expert support, allowing organisations to integrate the new requirement seamlessly into existing travel programmes.

The Home Office argues the system will improve security by allowing authorities to vet travellers against watch-lists before they arrive, mirroring systems such as the US ESTA and Canada’s eTA. Critics, however, warn that the compressed roll-out leaves little time for public education and that last-minute travellers may be caught out by processing glitches. The government insists most applications will be decided within minutes but advises applying at least 72 hours in advance. In practical terms, travel buyers should build the ETA step into online booking tools, ensure passport data in profiles exactly matches the document the traveller will carry, and remind staff that a new passport automatically voids the linked ETA. Failure to do so could see executives turned away at the gate—a costly error when travelling for high-value meetings.