United Kingdom | ETA enforced for travel to UK effective Feb. 25

The Home Office reported that, effective Feb. 25, 2026, visitors from 85 nationalities who do not need a visa will not be able to legally travel to the U.K. without an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).

Key Points:

• Visitors traveling to the U.K. on or after Feb. 25, 2026, must have digital permission through an ETA or an eVisa. This includes visitors who take connecting flights and go through U.K. passport control.
• The ETA was launched in October 2023 but has not been strictly enforced during the rollout period, giving visitors time to adjust to the new requirement.
• Visitors can apply for an ETA through the official U.K. ETA mobile app for £16 (about US$21). Officials recommend allowing up to three working days for approval.
• British and Irish citizens, including dual citizens, are exempt from needing an ETA.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

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