From 25 February 2026, visitors without an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will not be able to board their transport and will not be permitted to travel to the UK, unless they are exempt.
An ETA is a digital permission to travel – it is not a visa or a tax, and does not permit entry into the UK – it authorises a person to travel to the UK.
ETA is now a fundamental part of travel, including for visitors who take connecting flights and go through UK passport control. Everyone who wants to come to the UK must have digital permission through either an ETA or an eVisa. Carriers will be checking people before they travel.
Eligible visitors who take connecting flights (transiting) and go through UK passport control need an ETA. Those transiting through Heathrow and Manchester airports who do not go through UK passport control do not currently need an ETA.
As per the Home Office February update, British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA, including dual citizens. Dual British citizens are exempt from needing an ETA, but from 25 February 2026, are expected to present either a valid British passport or Certificate of Entitlement when travelling to the UK.
From 25 February, British dual nationals will no longer be allowed to enter the UK using only a foreign passport. To board a plane, they will need a valid British passport or a ’Certificate of Entitlement’, costing £589.
Visitors from 85 countries, including the United States, Canada, and France, who do not require a visa, will be unable to legally enter the UK without an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) beginning February 25, 2026. 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 starting 25 February 2026. The Home Office says airlines can accept expired UK passports at their own discretion, but there’s no legal guarantee you won’t be turned away at the airport gate.
