The UK is to begin “strictly enforcing” its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme for non-visa travellers from Wednesday (25 February), which could lead to passengers being denied boarding if they have not successfully applied for the electronic document.
The ETA scheme, which has been progressively rolled out since October 2023, currently applies to travellers from 85 countries, including passport holders in the EU, US, Canada and Australia. Although it does not apply to holders of Irish passports.
But, so far, the scheme has not yet been fully enforced by the UK government as part of its policy to give “visitors ample time to adjust to the new requirement”.
The UK government has warned that from 25 February, all travellers from applicable countries will face checks by their transport provider to ensure they have a valid ETA or electronic visa allowing them to enter the UK. They will be denied boarding if they cannot produce a valid electronic document.
In a statement, the UK government called the enforcement a “significant step towards digitising the immigration system and paves the way for a contactless UK border in the future”.
Applying for an ETA currently costs £16, although the UK government wants to raise this fee to £20 “in the future”. The ETA allows for multiple stays in the UK of up to six months at a time. It is valid for two years, unless the traveller’s passport expires within that period.
Natasha Inglis, implementation and client success director at UK-based TMC Good Business Travel, said the enforcement of the ETA rules will "significantly impact anyone travelling to the UK”.
“Without a valid ETA, travellers will be denied boarding and will not be legally permitted to enter the country,” added Inglis. “Even visitors transiting through a UK airport may need one, so it’s important to be prepared — even if your final destination is elsewhere."
Under current rules, those travellers transiting through London Heathrow and Manchester airports do not need to acquire an ETA, providing they do not pass through UK border control. Although this is not the case at other UK airports.
Vicki Williams, VP of sales for the UK and Ireland at Perk (formerly TravelPerk), added that the enforcement of ETA rules meant corporates who sent staff to the UK would need to be “far more deliberate about their preparation”.
“Requirements like the ETA may look minor on paper, but when they’re missed, the impact is immediate at the UK border,” said Williams.
“Employers can no longer assume travellers will navigate these rules on their own. Compliance and traveller readiness are now a core part of the business travel experience, particularly for travel into the UK, and businesses can’t be on the back foot.”
The government has also advised dual British citizens to ensure they have a valid UK passport or certificate entitlement to “avoid problems like being denied boarding when travelling to the UK from 25 February 2026”.