No permission, no travel: UK set to enforce ETA scheme

The strict enforcement of the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme will commence on 25 February 2026, following its initial announcement on 24 November 2025. From this date, travellers from 85 non-visa nationalities, including the United States, Canada, and France, must possess an ETA or eVisa. Airline carriers will verify this digital permission before passengers are permitted to board flights to the UK. The application for an ETA is priced at £16 and can be completed via the official UK ETA app, with most decisions processed quickly, though three working days are advised for review. British and Irish citizens remain exempt from this requirement, but dual British nationals are encouraged to use a valid British passport to avoid any potential travel complications.