ETA Transition Period to End

2026-02-06: Edited to add helpful links for more information

The introductory period of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in the UK. is coming to an end on Feb. 25, 2026. As of that date anyone who requires an ETA but doesn’t have one will not be allowed to board their transport and won’t be allowed in the UK.

The ETA was launched in 2025. Rather than a visa, which, depending on what kind a person holds, entitles them to live, work or go to school in the UK, the ETA is a digital permission slip for a visitor to travel to the UK.

It’s a requirement for anyone planning to visit England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland and for anyone transiting through a UK airport who will be passing through passport control.

According to Canadian Global Affairs, you don’t need an ETA if you are:

• Are transiting through an airport in the UK without passing border control.
• Are a dual national travelling on your British, Irish, or British overseas territories citizen passport.
• Have a visa or permission to live, work or study in the UK.
• Live in Ireland and you are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.

Travellers must apply for the ETA at least three days before they intend to arrive in the UK. It costs £16 (roughly $30 Cdn) and is anticipated to go up to £20 ($37). According to the UK Home Office, the best way to apply is via the UK ETA app, which can be downloaded from the Google Play or Apple App Store. People can apply on GOV.UK if they do not have access to a smartphone. 

Travellers will be asked to: 

• Pay the fee.
• Provide contact and passport details. You must travel on the same passport with which you applied for the ETA.
• Provide a valid photo, complying with our rules for digital photos on GOV.UK.
• Answer a set of suitability and criminality questions.

Permission is generally granted within a few minutes on the app. If a traveller’s application is rejected, they will be informed why and if they are eligible to re-apply. If the application is refused, the traveller will need to apply for a visa.

The British Home Office has provided the following links to help you stay up-to-date on the ETA and help travellers navigate the process smoothly.

• Specific advice for dual citizens: Electronic travel authorisation (ETA): guide for dual citizens - GOV.UK
• Check if you are a British Citizen: Check if you're a British citizen: Overview - GOV.UK
• Apply for an ETA: https://www.gov.uk/eta/apply
• All other ETA-related information: https://www.gov.uk/eta
• UKVI webchat for individual enquiries: Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) - Contact UK Visas and Immigration for help - GOV.UK

 

Related: What Travellers Need To Know About the Latest UK Entry Requirements

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