Czech nationals heading to the United Kingdom will have to hold an approved UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for every trip starting 25 February 2026. The Home Office confirmed the move in a factsheet released late on 23 February, ending the grace period that has allowed Czech passport holders to board flights and ferries without the digital permit. The application fee simultaneously increases by 25 percent—from £16 to £20—bringing it in line with similar schemes such as the US ESTA.
The ETA is valid for two years, or until the traveller’s passport expires, and permits multiple short-term visits of up to six months. Applications are submitted via the UK ETA mobile app or the gov.uk portal; most are auto-approved within minutes, but officials advise applying at least three working days in advance in case of manual review. Children and infants also require an ETA and must pay the same fee unless they qualify for one of the limited exemptions covering diplomats and certain Irish residents.
VisaHQ can streamline the application for Czech travellers by pre-checking passport details, flagging common errors, and submitting the ETA request on your behalf; you can start the process in minutes at https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/
![UK Electronic Travel Authorisation Becomes Mandatory for Czech Citizens on 25 February—Fee Rises to £20]()
For Czech corporates the new requirement adds an extra administrative step to short-notice business trips. Mobility managers should incorporate ETA instructions into pre-trip checklists, verify that employees’ passports have at least six months’ validity, and budget the £20 cost into travel policy. Companies with frequent travellers may wish to set calendar reminders for renewal, as an expired passport automatically voids the ETA even if the two-year period has not lapsed.
Failure to secure the authorisation will result in carriers denying boarding at Prague, Brno and Ostrava airports and at Eurostar terminals. Border Force has also indicated that fines may be levied on transport operators who carry non-compliant passengers, increasing the likelihood of strict document checks at departure gates. Business visitors who routinely travel on short notice—consultants, auditors, project engineers—should therefore pre-emptively apply to avoid costly delays.
Legal advisers note that the ETA does not change the underlying visa requirements for work or study. Travellers undertaking paid activities that fall outside the UK’s visitor rules must continue to obtain an appropriate work visa. Employers should ensure assignees do not conflate the two systems, as working on an ETA remains a breach of immigration law subject to enforcement and reputational risk.
The ETA is valid for two years, or until the traveller’s passport expires, and permits multiple short-term visits of up to six months. Applications are submitted via the UK ETA mobile app or the gov.uk portal; most are auto-approved within minutes, but officials advise applying at least three working days in advance in case of manual review. Children and infants also require an ETA and must pay the same fee unless they qualify for one of the limited exemptions covering diplomats and certain Irish residents.
VisaHQ can streamline the application for Czech travellers by pre-checking passport details, flagging common errors, and submitting the ETA request on your behalf; you can start the process in minutes at https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/
For Czech corporates the new requirement adds an extra administrative step to short-notice business trips. Mobility managers should incorporate ETA instructions into pre-trip checklists, verify that employees’ passports have at least six months’ validity, and budget the £20 cost into travel policy. Companies with frequent travellers may wish to set calendar reminders for renewal, as an expired passport automatically voids the ETA even if the two-year period has not lapsed.
Failure to secure the authorisation will result in carriers denying boarding at Prague, Brno and Ostrava airports and at Eurostar terminals. Border Force has also indicated that fines may be levied on transport operators who carry non-compliant passengers, increasing the likelihood of strict document checks at departure gates. Business visitors who routinely travel on short notice—consultants, auditors, project engineers—should therefore pre-emptively apply to avoid costly delays.
Legal advisers note that the ETA does not change the underlying visa requirements for work or study. Travellers undertaking paid activities that fall outside the UK’s visitor rules must continue to obtain an appropriate work visa. Employers should ensure assignees do not conflate the two systems, as working on an ETA remains a breach of immigration law subject to enforcement and reputational risk.
