The Home Office has announced that, effective February 25, 2026, visitors from 85 nationalities, including the United States, Canada, and France, who do not need a visa will not be able to legally travel to the UK without an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
Enforcement will mean that everyone who wants to travel to the UK must have digital permission through either an ETA or an eVisa. Carriers will be checking people before they travel.
Since the launch of ETA in October 2023, more than 13.3 million visitors have successfully applied for the scheme.
While ETA was being rolled out, it was not strictly enforced, to give visitors time to adjust to the new requirement.
Applying for an ETA is quick and simple through the official UK ETA app, and the cost is GBP 16. While most people currently get a decision automatically in minutes, it is recommended to allow three working days to account for the small number of cases that require additional review.
British and Irish citizens, including dual citizens, are exempt from needing an ETA. The UK government strongly advises dual British citizens to make sure they have a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement, to avoid problems like being denied boarding when travelling to the UK from February 25, 2026.
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