Visitors from 85 countries who don’t need a visa to travel to the UK must apply for permission to enter from 25 February 2026.
This includes visitors from the US, Canada, France and the rest of the EU.
They must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which was launched in October 2023 and is similar to the US ESTA visa-waiver.
The Home Office said: “This is a significant step towards digitising the immigration system and paves the way for a contactless UK border in the future.
“Enforcing will mean that everyone who wants to come to the UK must have digital permission through either an ETA or an eVisa and carriers will be checking people before they travel.”
Since the launch of ETA two years ago, more than 13.3 million have been issued, but it has not been strictly enforced to give visitors time to adjust to the new requirement.
It costs £16 via the official UK ETA app and lasts for two years, or until the applicant’s passport expires. Visitors usually receive a decision within minutes, though they are advised to allow three working days.
British and Irish citizens, including dual citizens, don’t need an ETA, but the UK Government strongly advises dual British citizens to make sure they have a valid British passport or Certificate of Entitlement, to avoid being denied boarding when travelling to the UK from 25 February next year.
