UK to enforce ETA requirement at the end of February 2026

Travelers from the US, EU/Schengen countries, Canada, Australia, and more will need an ETA before boarding flights to the UK

Travelers from the US, EU/Schengen countries, Canada, Australia, and dozens of other nations will not be able to enter the UK without an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from February 25, 2026. The UK government confirmed the enforcement date in a statement published on the official UK government website on November 24, 2025, warning that carriers will check passengers for valid permission before they board.

The announcement marks the end of a grace period that has been in place since the ETA system launched in October 2023. Until now, the requirement was not strictly enforced to give travelers time to adjust.

Enforcing will mean that everyone who wants to come to the UK must have digital permission through either an ETA or an eVisa. Carriers will be checking people before they travel.

From February 25, anyone from the 85 eligible nationalities who does not hold a valid ETA will be denied boarding and cannot legally travel to the UK.

Who is exempt from the UK ETA?

British and Irish citizens, including dual nationals, do not need an ETA. However, the government strongly advises dual British citizens to carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement when traveling to the UK.

From February 25, 2026, dual British citizens who cannot produce these documents risk being denied boarding.