The UK Home Office has confirmed that from February 25, 2026, the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirement will be enforced without exception. All eligible non-visa nationals (including US, Canada, Australia, Japan, UAE, and over 90 countries) must have an approved ETA linked to their passport before travel—or face automatic refusal of boarding by airlines, ferries, and Eurostar.

Even as a UK national, traveling on your other passport (US, Canadian, etc.) now requires you to physically show your valid British or Irish passport at check-in. Airlines must enforce this under the new “no ETA, no travel” system. Without the right document, you could be stopped from boarding your flight home. Renew your UK/Irish passport now to avoid being stranded.

Starting from 2 April 2025, European travelers will need to apply for a UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) before entering the UK.