The requirement for non-visa nationals to hold an Electronic Travel Authorisation to visit the UK will be strictly enforced from 25 February 2026.
The change is important as it will affect how visitors, visa holders and British citizens enter the UK.
What is changing?
It has been a requirement for non-visa nationals to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation before visiting the UK since early 2025. Following a grace period of non-enforcement, this requirement will now be strictly enforced from 25 February 2026.
‘Non-visa national’ means someone who is not a British or Irish citizen and does not need a visa to make a short visit to the UK. Non-visa nationals include citizens of:
• USA
• Canada
• New Zealand
• Australia
• EU and EEA countries and Switzerland
• Hong Kong
I hold a UK visa or indefinite leave to remain in the UK – what should I do?
If you hold a visa or indefinite leave to remain allowing you to live in the UK, you do not need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation before travel to the UK. Electronic Travel Authorisations are only required for those visiting the UK.
Visa and indefinite leave to remain holders should ensure that their UKVI account is up to date before travelling. You should check that your passport or travel document details are correct. You should generate a share code ahead of travel back to the UK which can be shown to carriers or UK Border Force if required.
The enforcement of the Electronic Travel Authorisation requirement will make it more important than ever to ensure you can prove your UK immigration status when travelling to the UK to avoid delays or potential issues with airline carriers or Border Force.
I am a dual British citizen but don’t have a British passport – what should I do?
Previously, dual citizens may have travelled into the UK using a foreign passport of a non-visa country. This was common for British citizens living outside the UK who had allowed their British passport to expire or never held a British passport. It will no longer be possible to enter the UK as a dual British citizen on a foreign passport from 25 February 2026.
If you are a British citizen:
• You must hold valid proof of your British citizenship in order to enter the UK, even if you hold a passport of another country too.
• You cannot apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation for your foreign passport, because you are not a ‘visitor’ under UK immigration law.
In most cases, the cheaper and more straightforward option will be to apply for a British passport. Alternatively, you can apply for a Certificate of Entitlement to be placed in your foreign passport – this acts as evidence that you have the ‘Right of Abode’ in the UK and can also be used by dual nationals to enter the UK. This can be a good option if you have never held a British passport and need to travel at short notice.
I will be visiting the UK after 25 February 2026 – what should I do?
Depending on your nationality, you must either apply for a visa or obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation before travelling. ‘Non-visa nationals’ need an ETA to visit the UK. If your ETA application is refused, you will usually need to apply for a visit visa before coming to the UK.
Your ETA application could be refused, for example, if you have a criminal conviction or have adverse immigration history in the UK.
View a full list of the nationalities that can apply for an ETA.
If you are a visa national (a citizen of a country which requires a visa to visit the UK), you cannot apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation. You must apply for a visit visa instead. View a list of visa national countries.
Applying for an ETA
Find out how to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation. The ETA currently costs £16 and is usually processed within 3 working days. You should, however, leave plenty of time to receive your ETA and avoid applying at the last minute if you can.
The application is made online or through the UK Home Office’s bespoke app.
Once granted your ETA will be valid for two years or until your passport expires (whichever is sooner). You do not need to apply for an ETA for every trip – you can keep travelling using your ETA until it expires.
Action points
| Dual British nationals | Apply for a British passport or Certificate of Entitlement before travelling to the UK, if you do not already have one. |
| Visa or indefinite leave to remain holders | Check you can access your eVisa on your UKVI account. Keep your details up to date and generate a share code ahead of travel. |
| Visitors | Apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation or visit visa, depending on your nationality, well in advance of planned travel to the UK. |
Get in touch
Thorntons’ immigration specialists can advise on travel to the UK and assist with any necessary applications including:
• First British passport applications or passport renewals
• Certificates of Entitlement
• Visit visas following an ETA refusal
• Visit visas for non-visa nationals
Do you need advice immigration advice? Contact our specialist Global Mobility and Immigration team now at 03330 430350.
