As of 00:01 GMT on 25 February 2026 the United Kingdom is refusing boarding to non-visa nationals who lack an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). The Home Office confirmed the change in a news release titled “UK enforces digital permission to travel.” French citizens—previously able to enter with only a passport—must now hold an ETA, an eVisa or another UK immigration permission before reaching the airline check-in desk. An ETA costs £16, is valid for two years and can be obtained through a mobile app; most applications are decided within minutes.
Airlines flying from France to the UK have integrated the new API feed and will face civil penalties if they carry ETA-less passengers. Eurostar and cross-Channel ferry operators are next in line, with system integration scheduled for April. Travel management companies report a surge in last-minute ETA applications from French executives who commute weekly to London’s financial district; many had assumed the system applied only to Gulf nationals during the pilot phase.
![UK starts enforcing Electronic Travel Authorisation – French visitors now need digital pre-clearance]()
To cut through the uncertainty, many travellers are turning to VisaHQ. The platform’s France page (https://www.visahq.com/france/) walks applicants through the UK ETA step-by-step, offers document checks, and even integrates with corporate travel dashboards—making compliance quick for both individuals and mobility managers.
For corporate mobility teams the key action is to update UK travel policies and pre-trip checklists. Assignees rotating between Paris and Manchester on single-entry work-visas may find the multi-trip ETA a cheaper fallback during transition periods. Organisations should also ensure that employees with dual UK-EU nationality travel on the correct passport, as French passports now trigger the ETA requirement whereas British documents do not.
The UK move foreshadows the EU’s own ETIAS scheme, due to start in October 2026, under which British nationals will need prior authorisation to enter France and other Schengen states. Companies operating on both sides of the Channel should therefore plan for reciprocal digital borders within the next eight months.
Airlines flying from France to the UK have integrated the new API feed and will face civil penalties if they carry ETA-less passengers. Eurostar and cross-Channel ferry operators are next in line, with system integration scheduled for April. Travel management companies report a surge in last-minute ETA applications from French executives who commute weekly to London’s financial district; many had assumed the system applied only to Gulf nationals during the pilot phase.
To cut through the uncertainty, many travellers are turning to VisaHQ. The platform’s France page (https://www.visahq.com/france/) walks applicants through the UK ETA step-by-step, offers document checks, and even integrates with corporate travel dashboards—making compliance quick for both individuals and mobility managers.
For corporate mobility teams the key action is to update UK travel policies and pre-trip checklists. Assignees rotating between Paris and Manchester on single-entry work-visas may find the multi-trip ETA a cheaper fallback during transition periods. Organisations should also ensure that employees with dual UK-EU nationality travel on the correct passport, as French passports now trigger the ETA requirement whereas British documents do not.
The UK move foreshadows the EU’s own ETIAS scheme, due to start in October 2026, under which British nationals will need prior authorisation to enter France and other Schengen states. Companies operating on both sides of the Channel should therefore plan for reciprocal digital borders within the next eight months.
