Summary From 25 February 2026, many visa-free visitors will need an approved UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before they travel, or they may be refused boarding by airlines, rail and ferry carriers. The ETA is digitally linked to your passport and currently costs £16. Key takeaways If you are from a nationality that can visit the UK without a visa for short stays, you may need an ETA before you travel. From 25 February 2026, carriers are expected to enforce “no ETA,
