The countdown has ended: from **25 February 2026** all travellers who can normally enter Britain without a visa must hold an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before they board a plane, ferry or train bound for the UK. The Home Office confirmed the hard start in a news story published late on 24 February. Airlines and other carriers will run a strict **“no permission, no travel”** policy and will refuse boarding to anyone who cannot show a digitally-linked ETA, an eVisa or other acceptable status. (gov.uk)
The requirement applies to citizens of 85 countries and territories, including the United States, Canada, Australia and every EU member state. An ETA costs £16, is valid for two years (or until the passport expires) and lets the holder visit or transit the UK for up to six months on each trip. British and Irish citizens are exempt, but dual nationals must travel on a valid or certain expired UK passport or with a digital Certificate of Entitlement. ETAs have already generated more than £383 million in revenue since the phased launch began in 2023, money ministers say is being reinvested in border technology. (gov.uk)
Carriers have scrambled to update check-in systems. Virgin Atlantic, for example, now blocks any non-visa passenger whose passport is not paired to an ETA. The airline is urging business travellers to apply at least three working days in advance, even though most approvals are still issued “within minutes.” (virginatlantic.com)
For travellers looking for a straightforward way to secure an ETA, VisaHQ offers an end-to-end online application service that streamlines the process, provides status updates, and ensures your authorisation is correctly linked to your passport before you fly. You can start an ETA request or explore other UK entry options in minutes at https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/
For corporate mobility managers the change is pivotal. Unlike the EU’s forthcoming ETIAS, the UK ETA is already live and fully enforced. Companies will need to build ETA checks into travel approval workflows, advise frequent flyers to apply early, and keep close watch on passport renewals—because a new passport means applying for a new ETA. Immigration advisers also warn that last-minute meeting travel could be derailed if an employee is flagged for manual security review.
Looking ahead, the Home Office says ETA is only the first step toward a **“contact-less border.”** The scheme will eventually integrate with the UK’s eVisa platform and new biometric corridors at ports, meaning today’s digital permission may become tomorrow’s fully automated entry gate.
