UK Now ‘Strictly’ Interpreting ETA Rules

The UK is enforcing ETA rules. Learn who needs one, how it works and how to avoid being denied boarding.

The UK began “strictly enforcing” its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme for non-visa travellers from 25 February, which could lead to passengers being denied boarding if they have not successfully applied for the necessary document.

The ETA scheme, which has been progressively rolled out since October 2023, applies to travellers from 85 countries, including passport holders in the EU, US, Canada and Australia. It does not apply to holders of Irish passports who can continue to travel freely to the UK.

Until its full introduction, the scheme was not fully enforced by the UK government as part of its policy to give “visitors ample time to adjust to the new requirement”.

Since then, the UK government has warned that all travellers from applicable countries will now 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 (which) 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.

Under current rules, those travellers transiting through Heathrow and Manchester airports do not need to acquire an ETA, providing they do not pass through UK border control. Note that this is not the case at other UK airports.

The government 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”.