UK Completes Shift to eVisas, Scrapping Passport Stickers for All New Visa Grants
VFS Global Joins UKVI to Roll Out eVisa Platform Worldwide
Home Secretary Signals ‘Danish-Style’ Immigration Overhaul—Permanent Residence Could Take 20 Years
Latest News
UK switches on full Electronic Travel Authorisation checks for 85 visa-free nationalities
The UK has begun enforcing its ETA programme, meaning visitors from 85 visa-exempt countries must hold a £16 digital permit before boarding transport to the UK. Carriers face hefty fines for non-compliance and have integrated real-time checks into their systems. Business-travel and mobility teams must update policies immediately, as staff without an ETA will be denied boarding.
Paper visa stickers scrapped as UK rolls out eVisas for most visitor routes
From 25 February the UK has stopped issuing physical visa stickers for most visitor categories, replacing them with fully digital eVisas. Applicants visit the visa application centre only once, keep their passports, and receive their permission electronically—streamlining processing but requiring rigorous passport-number management by travellers and employers.
Aer Lingus tightens ID rules and reminds non-Irish passengers of new UK ETA requirement
Aer Lingus now demands a passport or Irish passport card for all Ireland-UK flights and will apply the UK’s new ETA/eVisa carrier checks to non-Irish, non-British travellers. The stricter policy affects millions of leisure and business passengers and requires travel managers to update ID guidance immediately.
Parliamentary committee approves order to raise UK immigration-application fee ceilings, including ETA
MPs have endorsed an order that raises the legal ceilings on UK immigration fees, including an ETA cap increase from £16 to £20. While actual fee changes will follow in a separate instrument, corporates should prepare for higher visa costs in the second half of 2026.
Home Office restarts live facial-recognition border pilot at Holyhead ferry port
Live facial-recognition cameras are being tested again on the Dublin–Holyhead ferry route, scanning thousands of passengers for immigration-enforcement purposes. Business travellers could face extra delays, and privacy advocates fear the pilot may pave the way for routine biometric checks within the Common Travel Area.
UK extends Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme by additional 24 months
Ukrainians holding UPE status can extend their stay in the UK by another two years, giving up to 3.5 years’ total protection. The move offers welcome certainty to employees and sponsors while remaining a temporary, non-settlement route.