Travelling to the UK? Here is what changes from 25 February 2026

From 25 February when Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) comes into force, all travellers to the UK must have the correct documents and permission otherwise they may not be able to travel to the UK. Below we cover how to ensure your travel to the UK is not disrupted by the changes.

The UK government divides travellers to the UK into three main groups 

(1) British and Irish nationals;

(2) visa nationals who, unsurprisingly, need a visa to travel to the UK for any purpose (visits and longer term stays), and; 

(3) non-visa nationals who do not need a visa to travel to visit but who do need a visa if they are coming to the UK for any other reason (work or study etc). 

As many will have heard, the UK has introduced an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for some travellers coming to the UK. Although ETA only applies to the non-visa cohort – and within that cohort only those whose purpose is to visit the UK – the knock-on impact of ETA impacts the other categories as well. So this update will be relevant for everyone to understand their position when travelling to the UK. When we refer to carriers in this piece, we are talking about companies who bring passengers to the UK; which means airlines, ferry companies and Eurostar.

Once ETA is fully enforced from 25 February 2026 the most straightforward way to think about travelling to the UK is to see it as a two-stage process: 

1. The check made by the carrier before I begin my journey to the UK 
2. The check at the UK border once I arrive in the UK 

Both stages of the process need the correct document (e.g. a valid passport) and the correct permission (e.g. ETA, a visa etc.). We have set out what documents and permission each group needs below: 

Visa nationals are, iIn a sense the most straightforward group, as they have always needed to show visa permission to carriers for both short- and longer-term stays in the UK. Visa permission for this purpose means a visa granted outside the UK or immigration permission (such as indefinite leave to remain) normally granted inside the UK. So, on the one hand the approach to this group has not changed. However, it will still be very important for visa nationals with an eVisa (which is most people these days) to ensure that their UK Visa and Immigration Account (UKVI Account) is updated with their current passport to enable carriers to see they have permission to travel back to the UK. On arrival at the UK border their visa will be check by Border Force officers.  

This is the group most affected by the introduction of ETA, as non-visa national visitors can no longer just travel to the UK on their passports and be granted visiting permission at the UK border. Instead, they need to obtain an ETA (this applies to both adults and children) in advance of travel so carriers can check they have the correct permission before allowing them to begin the journey to the UK. Failure to get an ETA before travelling will result in them being refused boarding (i.e. the carrier will not permit them to travel). 

You can apply for an ETA using the Home Office app or online and it costs £16. There are companies that will charge for a service to apply for an ETA but note that they cannot get you an ETA any quicker than if you apply yourself using gov.uk (the UK government’s official website). If the ETA application is rejected this means something went wrong with the application (e.g. the payment did not process or the digital picture was not good enough quality) and you can reapply. If the ETA application is refused (very few are) you will probably need to seek legal advice if you still wish to visit the UK. 

Like visa nationals, non-visa nationals who hold an eVisa because they are not just visiting the UK, such as those who hold student visas or work visas, are required to keep their UKVI Account up to date with their current passport (or national ID card if they are EU/EEA/Swiss citizens with pre-settled or settled status). On arrival at the UK border some non-visa nationals can use the eGates to enter the UK (if available), otherwise they will enter via an immigration desk where visitors need to be granted visiting permission to enter and visa holders will have their visa status confirmed.  

British and Irish nationals with only one nationality will continue to travel in the way they have always done, using a British or Irish passport (or Irish passport card) that will be checked by carriers before the journey to the UK begins. They can use the eGates to enter the UK (if available), otherwise they will enter via an immigration desk. 

In the past, dual British nationals whose other nationality is a non-visa country could use their non-British passport to travel to the UK. This has now changed and carriers will require them to show either a British passport or, a non-British passport with a Certificate of Entitlement (this costs £589 and so is far more expensive than a British passport). If the dual national cannot show either of these documents the carrier is likely to refuse them boarding. 

• Apply for ETA – https://www.gov.uk/eta/apply
• Travel with your eVisa – https://www.gov.uk/evisa/travel-with-evisa
• Update your UKVI account details with a new passport or ID card – https://www.gov.uk/evisa/update-ukvi-account
• Report an error with your eVisa – https://www.gov.uk/evisa/report-error-evisa
• Apply for your first adult British passport – https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-adult-passport/apply-online
• Apply for your first child British passport – https://www.gov.uk/get-a-child-passport/first-child-passport
• Renew your British passport – https://www.gov.uk/apply-renew-passport
• Electronic travel authorisation (ETA): guide for dual citizens – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/electronic-travel-authorisation-eta-guide-for-dual-citizens