Dubai’s flagship carrier Emirates has issued an advisory for UAE residents planning to travel to the United Kingdom. In an update on their official website, the airline informed of changing travel requirements to the UK, which includes moving from physical immigration documents to eVisas and introducing Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), a digital permission to travel.
According to the advisory, travellers who do not need a visa to visit the UK for short stays of up to six months, will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation. You can check when you need an ETA to travel to the UK and apply at www.gov.uk/electronic‑travel‑authorisation.
From February 25, 2026, eligible visitors without an ETA will not be able to board their transport and cannot legally travel to the UK.
UK visa holders who use a physical immigration document to prove their rights, or if they have an expired biometric residence permit (BRP) or card (BCP), they should take action now to access their eVisa by creating a UK Visas and Immigration account at www.gov.uk/eVisa.
Travellers who have indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and can prove their immigration status with a passport stamp or vignette, can make a free No Time Limit application to access an eVisa.
If you already have an eVisa, please tell the UK Government about the passport you intend to use for travel if it is not already linked to your eVisa UK Visas and Immigration account at www.gov.uk/update‑uk‑visas‑immigration‑account‑details, the airlines added in their advisory.
