Is the UK About to Change How Visitors Enter The Country With ETA?

Travellers should be prepared, because from 25 February next year, the UK will follow new rules that will affect visitors from 85 nationalities such as the US, Canada and France. The Home Office announced that these travellers will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation, or ETA, before they can arrive in the UK. The rule is for, and applies to tourists, business visitors and people who pass through the UK on connecting flights and go through passport control.

Officials say this is an effort that aims to push the industry toward a fully digital border. They want all travellers to hold digital permission before they reach the airport. Carriers will check for the document before passengers fly, and anyone who arrives without one might have to be turned away. British and Irish citizens will not need an ETA, of course, and that also applies to people who hold both British and another nationality. The Home Office advised dual nationals to travel on a British passport from the start of enforcement.

The Home Office said more than 13.3 million people have used the ETA since its launch in October two years ago. They said the document has already helped speed up entry for many travellers. Officials kept enforcement relaxed during the roll out period so that travellers could adjust. They said this mirrors the early stages of similar travel systems used in the United States and Canada.

How Will Visitors Apply?

Travellers can apply through the official UK ETA app. The Home Office describes the process as quick through the app, and the cost sits at £16. Most applicants receive a decision automatically within minutes. Even so, officials said travellers should apply at least 3 working days before their trip in case their application needs human review.

The ETA will sit in digital form rather than as a paper document, and border staff will see it automatically when they scan a passport. Visitors do not need to print anything. The Home Office has said the aim is smoother checks at airports. They believe that once the system reaches full use, people should move through the border faster.

People who visit the UK often will be able to use the same ETA for multiple trips during its validity period. The Home Office has said people will find it easier to keep track of their travel status because everything sits in one place on the app.

Why Is The Government Tightening Entry Rules?

The Home Office says the new rule helps create a digital border and gives the government more information about who enters the country. Officials believe the ETA supports safer and more efficient management of travel flows. They said the system forms a building block toward a contactless border. This means travellers may in time move through the entry process without handing documents to staff.

The government says collecting digital permission before travel helps carriers stop people from boarding if they do not meet entry rules. They believe this prevents problems at the airport on arrival and saves time for staff and travellers. They also say it gives a more reliable set of information about visitor movement.

Officials also say the ETA helps avoid confusion among travellers. They explained that many visitors wrongly assume they do not need any form of permission because of visa waiver agreements. From February 2026, all non British and non Irish visitors will need either an ETA or an eVisa, depending on their circumstances.

Who Is Exempt From This?

British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA at any stage. Dual British nationals must travel on a British passport or have a certificate of entitlement. The Home Office said this protects travellers from problems such as being denied boarding. Children who hold British or Irish nationality also fall under the exemption.

People who hold residence status in the UK will continue to use their normal digital documents. The ETA rule only applies to visitors and transit passengers who go through UK passport control.

Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Mike Tapp, said: “ETAs give us greater power to stop those who pose a threat from setting foot in the country and gives us a fuller picture of immigration. ETAs are also better for travellers. Digitising the immigration system ensures the millions of people we welcome to the UK every year enjoy a more seamless travel experience.”