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The UK’s new digital entry system: what every traveller needs to know
By Tiffany West, Josh Chandler, and Geoffrey Williams
Briefly …
Planning a trip to the UK? From 25 February 2025, many visa-free travellers will need a new digital entry permission – the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Knowing when to apply, whether you’re exempt, or which passport to travel on is now an essential part of travelling solo and stress-free.
Starting from 25 February 2026, the UK is introducing a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, a digital pre travel permission designed to strengthen border security and streamline entry for millions of visitors. While the concept might feel familiar to anyone who has used the USA’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) or the EU’s new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), the UK’s ETA comes with its own rules and exemptions. Here, we break down what the changes mean so you can prepare confidently and avoid surprises at the airport.
The shift to a digital system changes where your travel plans can go seriously wrong. Previously, immigration decisions happened largely at the border. Under the ETA system, checks move earlier, with airlines responsible for confirming passengers have the correct digital permission before departure.
For travellers, this means:
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paperwork must be correct before you reach the airport
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the passport you use matters more than before
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assumptions based on past trips may no longer hold.
The UK Government’s advice is simple: check your status before you travel, even if you’ve entered the UK many times before without issue. It is also important to remember that even with an approved ETA, entry to the UK is not guaranteed. The final decision on whether a traveller is permitted to enter the country is always made by UK Border Force at the border, based on the traveller’s circumstances at the time of arrival. This remains the case even with an approved ETA.
To make sense of the UK’s new entry rules, we’ve broken this guide into clear sections based on your individual solo traveller circumstance, rather than your nationality alone. The requirements can differ depending on whether you’re a general visitor, a dual citizen, an Irish resident, a visa holder, or simply transiting through the UK. Simply click on the link to the section that best matches your situation to find the information that applies to you and avoid wading through rules that don’t. This approach reflects how the UK Government applies the ETA system in practice: what you need to do depends on who you are and how you’re travelling.
1. General travellers
A British Airways Airbus A380. Photographer: Andrew D | Unsplash.
If you’re travelling to the UK for tourism, business, short-term study, or family visits, and you do not already hold a UK visa or residence permission, you will most likely need to apply for a UK ETA before you travel unless you fall into an exempt category covered below.
Who needs an ETA?
The UK ETA applies primarily to visa-exempt nationals, that is travellers from countries that don’t require a visa to enter the UK but will soon need this digital authorisation instead. This includes citizens of:
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Australia
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New Zealand
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United States
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Canada
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European Union and Schengen Zone countries, and
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many other countries with visa-exempt status.
How to apply
The ETA application is a simple online process. You provide passport details, answer a few basic questions, pay a fee (around £10–£16), and receive digital authorisation linked to your passport. Once approved, an ETA allows multiple visits for up to two years, with stays of up to six months each time.
You can apply for an ETA on the official UK Government website here.
Exceptions for general travellers
Certain travellers are exempt from needing an ETA, including:
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British or Irish citizens
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holders of a valid UK visa or residence permission
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British Overseas Territories Citizens and British National (Overseas) passport holders
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residents of Ireland travelling directly from Ireland or the Crown Dependencies (Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man)
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transit passengers who do not pass through UK border control.
Important notes
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If you hold dual citizenship including British or Irish, you cannot apply for an ETA and must travel using your British or Irish passport or a valid Certificate of Entitlement.
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Airlines will check for a valid ETA or exemption before boarding, so it’s critical to have your authorisation sorted well ahead of travel.
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Transit passengers should confirm with their airline whether an ETA is required because it will depend on whether you pass through UK border control.
2. Dual citizens
London, UK. Photographer: Alessandro Russo | Unsplash.
If you hold dual citizenship and one of your nationalities is British or Irish, the UK’s new ETA system affects you differently from most other travellers. Understanding these rules will help you avoid surprises and travel smoothly.
Can dual citizens apply for an ETA?
No. The UK Government’s official guidance states that if you hold British or Irish citizenship, you are not eligible to apply for an ETA. This means:
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you must travel on your British or Irish passport when entering the UK.
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if you do not have a British or Irish passport, but have the right of abode in the UK, you must carry a Certificate of Entitlement with your other passport.
Without one of these documents, you will be treated as a regular visa-exempt traveller and will be required to obtain an ETA.
What is a Certificate of Entitlement?
A Certificate of Entitlement is an official document confirming your right of abode in the UK. It’s placed inside a valid foreign passport (for example, an Australian passport) and proves you have the legal right to live and work in the UK without immigration restrictions.
Why is it important in the context of the ETA?
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Dual citizens who hold British citizenship but travel on a non-British passport (an Australian passport for example) need the CoE to demonstrate their right of abode.
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Since dual British/Irish citizens cannot apply for an ETA, if they don’t have a British or Irish passport at hand, the CoE serves as proof that they do not need an ETA to enter the UK.
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Without a British/Irish passport or a CoE, dual citizens risk being treated like regular visa-exempt travellers, who would need an ETA.
Why does this matter?
Starting from 25 February 2026, UK border authorities and airlines will strictly enforce this rule, and:
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airlines are legally obliged to verify that passengers have valid travel permission before boarding
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dual citizens travelling on their non-British/Irish passport without the appropriate documentation risk being denied boarding, and
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the Certificate of Entitlement acts as proof of your right to enter the UK without an ETA if you don’t hold a British or Irish passport.
Practical implications
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The CoE is more expensive and less common than a passport, but critical for dual nationals who prefer or only have their non-British passport when travelling.
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Airlines and UK border control accept the CoE as proof of right of abode, meaning no ETA is required if you have this document.
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For solo travellers, it’s crucial to know that carrying either a British/Irish passport or a CoE with your foreign passport is the only way to avoid the ETA requirement if you have dual citizenship.
As of the latest official guidance, applying for a Certificate of Entitlement to prove your right of abode costs £589 (standard Home Office fee). This is separate from passport or ETA costs and must be paid when you submit your application.
You can apply for a Certificate of Entitlement on the official UK Government website here.
3. Irish residents and travel within the Common Travel Area
Temple Bar is Dublin's vibrant, historic cultural quarter centered around the iconic The Temple Bar Pub, Dublin, Ireland. Photographer: Nicholas Murawski | Unsplash.
The UK and Ireland share a unique arrangement known as the Common Travel Area (CTA), allowing freedom of movement between the two countries and certain Crown Dependencies (Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man). This affects ETA requirements for many travellers residing in Ireland.
Are Irish residents required to have a UK ETA?
Generally, if you are lawfully resident in Ireland and travel directly from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, or the Isle of Man to the UK, you are exempt from needing a UK ETA, even if your nationality would otherwise require one. This exemption applies because travel within the CTA is governed by longstanding agreements separate from the UK’s new ETA regime.
Who does this apply to?
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Irish citizens living in Ireland
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non-Irish nationals who are legally resident in Ireland (including visa holders, settled or pre-settled status), and
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Residents of Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man.
Important considerations
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This exemption only applies if travelling directly from within the CTA. Travelling to the UK from outside the CTA will require an ETA or visa as per normal rules.
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You should carry proof of residence in Ireland or the relevant Crown Dependency (such as a residence card or utility bill) in addition to your passport.
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Airlines may require evidence of residency at check-in to confirm exemption eligibility.
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This exemption does not apply to transit passengers passing through other countries or airports en route to the UK.
What about Irish citizens?
Irish citizens, whether resident in Ireland or abroad, are always exempt from needing an ETA when travelling on an Irish passport.
4. Travellers holding UK visas or immigration permissions
London, United Kingdom. Photographer: Roman Koester | Unsplash.
If you already hold a valid UK visa or have official permission to live, work, or study in the UK, the new ETA system will have minimal impact on your travel plans. Your existing visa or immigration status continues to serve as your entry permission.
Who is covered?
This group includes travellers with:
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visitor visas (including standard visitor, business visitor, and other short-stay visas)
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work visas (such as skilled worker and temporary worker visa)
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student visas
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family visas (spouses, dependents, etc.)
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indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or settled/pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, and/or
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right of abode in the UK.
Do you need an ETA?
No. If you have a valid UK visa or immigration status as above, you do not need to apply for an ETA. Your visa or permission remains your official authorisation to enter and stay in the UK according to its terms.
Important tips
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Make sure your visa or permission is valid at the time of travel.
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Carry the passport in which your visa or status is endorsed.
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Some visa types require that you travel on the same passport used to obtain the visa.
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If you hold multiple passports, always present the one containing your UK visa or immigration permission.
What if you hold a visa but also hold British or Irish citizenship?
If you hold British or Irish citizenship, you are exempt from needing an ETA regardless of visa status. In this case, travel on your British or Irish passport.
5. Transit passengers
Photographer: Jetshoots.com | Unsplash.
If you are travelling through the UK en route to another country, your need for an ETA depends on whether you pass through UK border control.
What are the rules for transit passengers?
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No ETA needed if you remain airside and do not pass through immigration control – changing flights within the same terminal’s international transit area for example.
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ETA required if you must pass through UK border control to collect luggage or change terminals.
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Confirm with your airline beforehand as transit rules can vary by airport and airline.
6. Children travelling to the UK
Children, including infants, generally need their own ETA if they hold a passport from a visa-exempt country that requires an ETA. Parents or guardians should apply for their child’s ETA separately.
7. What to do if you’re unsure or have special circumstances
If your situation doesn’t fit neatly into the categories above – for example, you hold complex or multiple immigration statuses, or have recently changed nationality – it’s best to:
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check the official UK Government website for the most current guidance, and
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confirm with your airline before travel.
You can find the most current information and guidance on the official UK Government website here.
Tiffany West is The Solo Traveller Group’s Editorial and Pictorial Assistant Lead, Josh Chandler is dedicated solo traveller and a writer currently based in Europe, and Geoffrey Williams is The Solo Traveller Group’s Founder and Publishing Curator.