At 00:01 GMT on 25 February 2026 the United Kingdom pressed the ‘go-live’ button on its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) regime, ending the 10-month soft-launch phase that had allowed millions of visitors to board flights without the digital permit. From today, airlines, ferry companies and international rail operators are legally barred from carrying a non-visa national to the UK unless the person’s passport is linked to a valid ETA, eVisa or other Home Office permission to travel. Carrier liability fines of up to £10,000 per passenger have been activated and a 24/7 Carrier Support Hub has been stood up to handle last-minute issues.
The Home Office says more than 19 million ETAs have already been granted since applications opened in October 2023, and it expects an additional 11 million applications in 2026. The £16 permit (valid for two years or until the passport expires) is required for nationals of 85 countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia and all EU member states. British and Irish citizens are exempt, but dual British nationals must now prove their citizenship with a UK passport or a new digital Certificate of Entitlement (CoE) to the right of abode.
For travellers and global mobility teams who would rather not navigate the process alone, VisaHQ provides a streamlined ETA application service that plugs directly into corporate travel workflows. Through its UK portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) the firm guides users step-by-step, checks documents before submission and delivers real-time status alerts—helping companies avoid costly last-minute problems while keeping compliance straightforward.
For corporates the change is significant: travel managers must build ETA compliance into booking workflows, remind short-term assignees that processing can take up to three working days, and budget for the £16 (soon to rise to £20) fee. HR teams that routinely fly in global colleagues for training or project meetings should audit upcoming travel to ensure no one is caught out. Airlines have already embedded real-time Home Office database queries into their departure-control systems; Virgin Atlantic and British Airways both confirmed they will off-load passengers without a match.
The Home Office argues the scheme will strengthen border security by screening travellers before they depart, bringing the UK into line with the US ESTA and Canada’s eTA. Critics worry about last-minute business trips and family emergencies, but the government points to an 85 per cent auto-decision rate within minutes of application. Looking ahead, ministers describe the ETA as a “building block” towards a fully contactless border by the end of the decade.
