From 25 February 2026, the UK fully enforces a permission-to-travel model for entry. The practical change is that eligibility is increasingly checked before travel rather than resolved at the border. Airlines, ferry operators and rail carriers are expected to confirm that a traveller either holds the correct pre-travel permission or clearly falls within a recognised exemption before boarding.
The impact goes wider than people who need an ETA. Travellers who are exempt, but cannot evidence that exemption in a way carrier systems recognise, are also being caught.
For travellers, the effect is decisive: no permission confirmed, no travel.
| Traveller type | Permission or proof expected | Practical impact from 25 February 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Non-visa national visitor | ETA for short stays unless exempt | Boarding is refused where an ETA is required but not granted in advance. |
| Visa national | Valid visa linked to the passport used | Carrier checks are stricter. Errors or mismatches are dealt with at check-in, not on arrival. |
| British citizen | British passport or acceptable proof of citizenship | No ETA applies, but travel can be disrupted if British nationality cannot be shown clearly. |
| Irish citizen | Irish passport | Exempt from ETA. Clear proof of Irish citizenship avoids delays. |
| Dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship | British or Irish passport, or Certificate of Entitlement | High risk if travelling on a non-UK passport without recognised proof of exemption. |
| EUSS status holder | Digital status linked to the passport used | Exempt from ETA, but boarding can fail if digital status cannot be accessed or shared. |
| UK permission holder | Valid digital immigration status | Exempt from ETA, but record mismatches can stop travel before departure. |
| Right of abode holder | Passport with endorsement or Certificate of Entitlement | Legally exempt, but higher friction where documents are unfamiliar to carrier staff. |
| Transit passenger | Depends on whether UK border control is passed | Transit that involves passport control can trigger permission checks. |
Non-visa nationals and ETA enforcement
Non-visa nationals are the primary group affected by the permission-to-travel model. Where a short visit to the UK previously involved turning up with a passport and a plan, it now requires an ETA in advance unless a clear exemption applies.
From February 2026, travelling without a granted ETA where one is required results in refusal to board. Carriers are not expected to exercise discretion or allow travel on the basis that permission can be resolved later. The ETA is passport-specific, so travellers also need to ensure they use the same passport for travel as the one used for the ETA application.
Tourists, family visitors and business visitors
For most short-term visits, the change is procedural rather than substantive. Eligibility remains the same, but compliance now sits earlier in the journey. Last-minute travel without checking ETA requirements is a common failure point.
Business visitors face added exposure where travel is frequent or time-sensitive. An overlooked ETA now causes disruption before departure rather than a discussion at the border.
Transit travellers
ETA requirements can apply during transit where a traveller passes through UK passport control. Connecting flights that involve entering the UK, even briefly, can therefore trigger permission checks that were previously ignored.
Visa nationals travelling to the UK
Visa nationals are not newly subject to ETA requirements, but they are affected by the same permission-to-travel mindset. Carriers increasingly expect to verify that a valid visa exists and aligns with the passport presented before boarding.
In practice, issues that previously surfaced at the UK border are now stopping travel earlier. Expired vignettes, incorrect visa types, passport renewals and unresolved record errors are more likely to result in refusal to board.
Where a person applies for an ETA and receives a refusal, the practical route to travel shifts to a visa application rather than repeated ETA attempts. Refusals are not resolved through discussion at the airport.
British citizens, Irish citizens and dual nationals
British and Irish citizens are exempt from ETA requirements. The risk in 2026 lies in proving that exemption in a way that works for carrier systems.
British citizens travelling on non-UK passports, or dual nationals who rely on informal explanations of citizenship, are particularly exposed. Where staff cannot quickly confirm an exemption, the default response is increasingly refusal to board rather than investigation.
Dual British citizens cannot apply for an ETA. Travel therefore depends on presenting a British passport or a recognised alternative such as a Certificate of Entitlement. Older endorsements or unfamiliar documents increase the risk of friction at check-in.
EUSS holders and other UK status holders
People with permission to live, work or study in the UK, including those with settled or pre-settled status, are exempt from ETA requirements. The problem in 2026 is not legal status but evidencing it.
Digital status needs to be accessible, up to date and linked to the passport used for travel. Where travellers cannot generate proof, have not updated passport details or encounter technical access issues, carrier checks can fail despite valid underlying status.
Any mismatch between the passport presented and Home Office records creates a risk point. In a permission-to-travel environment, travel is stopped first and explanations follow later.
What travellers need to do
Travellers should treat permission to travel as a fixed part of planning. That means checking whether an ETA is required, applying in advance where it is, travelling on the correct passport and ensuring any digital status is accessible and accurate.
For those who are exempt, preparation focuses on proof. If exemption cannot be demonstrated quickly and clearly, entitlement alone may not prevent disruption.
The immediate consequence is refusal to board. For people who need an ETA, travel simply does not proceed without one. For those who are exempt but cannot prove it, the outcome is often the same.
The wider consequence is delay, cost and escalation. What looks like a technical oversight can quickly become a missed journey, a forced visa application or a recorded refusal that affects future travel.
In 2026, permission to travel is no longer a border discussion. It is a prerequisite for starting the journey.
