From today, 25 February 2026, all non-visa nationals—including German citizens—must hold an approved UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before airlines will allow them to board flights, ferries or Eurostar services to the United Kingdom. The Home Office confirmed full enforcement in a statement issued late on 24 February, declaring: “No permission, no travel.”
An ETA costs £16, is valid for two years and covers multiple entries but must be linked electronically to the passport presented at check-in. Carriers face fines of up to £10,000 per passenger if they transport travellers without a valid ETA, eVisa or other permission. Dual British-German nationals are exempt but must present a valid UK passport or newly available digital Certificate of Entitlement; an expired British passport may be accepted only at an airline’s discretion.
German travellers who would rather not navigate the application alone can use VisaHQ’s streamlined online service. Via its Germany portal (https://www.visahq.com/germany/), the company pre-screens documents, submits ETA requests and tracks approvals on clients’ behalf, helping individuals and corporate travel teams avoid costly errors and boarding denials.
![UK Makes Electronic Travel Authorisation Mandatory—German Visitors Now Need Digital Permit Before Boarding]()
The move completes a phased rollout that began in 2023 and is part of London’s plan to create a fully digital, contact-less border by 2028. Industry data show more than 19 million ETAs have already been issued, but travel-management companies warn many short-notice business travellers remain unaware of the requirement. HR and mobility teams should update pre-trip approval checklists and ensure employees’ personal profiles in online booking tools capture ETA reference numbers.
German firms with frequent UK travel—particularly in finance, automotive supply chains and media—are also re-examining trip lead-times. While most ETA approvals arrive within minutes, the Home Office still recommends applying three working days before departure to allow for cases that trigger manual review. Employees who forget may face denied boarding, missed meetings and potentially high re-booking costs.
Beyond immediate compliance, the UK measure foreshadows similar schemes worldwide, including the EU’s own ETIAS authorisation, now slated for late 2026. Companies should therefore prepare travellers for a future in which pre-travel e-permits become the norm rather than the exception.
An ETA costs £16, is valid for two years and covers multiple entries but must be linked electronically to the passport presented at check-in. Carriers face fines of up to £10,000 per passenger if they transport travellers without a valid ETA, eVisa or other permission. Dual British-German nationals are exempt but must present a valid UK passport or newly available digital Certificate of Entitlement; an expired British passport may be accepted only at an airline’s discretion.
German travellers who would rather not navigate the application alone can use VisaHQ’s streamlined online service. Via its Germany portal (https://www.visahq.com/germany/), the company pre-screens documents, submits ETA requests and tracks approvals on clients’ behalf, helping individuals and corporate travel teams avoid costly errors and boarding denials.
The move completes a phased rollout that began in 2023 and is part of London’s plan to create a fully digital, contact-less border by 2028. Industry data show more than 19 million ETAs have already been issued, but travel-management companies warn many short-notice business travellers remain unaware of the requirement. HR and mobility teams should update pre-trip approval checklists and ensure employees’ personal profiles in online booking tools capture ETA reference numbers.
German firms with frequent UK travel—particularly in finance, automotive supply chains and media—are also re-examining trip lead-times. While most ETA approvals arrive within minutes, the Home Office still recommends applying three working days before departure to allow for cases that trigger manual review. Employees who forget may face denied boarding, missed meetings and potentially high re-booking costs.
Beyond immediate compliance, the UK measure foreshadows similar schemes worldwide, including the EU’s own ETIAS authorisation, now slated for late 2026. Companies should therefore prepare travellers for a future in which pre-travel e-permits become the norm rather than the exception.
