The UK is rolling out two major changes that affect how people prove their right to travel or live in the country: eVisas for digital immigration status, and Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) for many visa-free visitors.
While the two are often mentioned together, they serve different groups. In simple terms: an eVisa is digital proof of immigration status for people who already have permission to be in the UK, while an ETA is a pre-travel authorisation for visitors who do not need a visa for short stays.
Below is what’s changing, who needs which document, and what dual British citizens must do from 25 February 2026.
UK eVisa: what it is and why it matters
An eVisa is the UK government’s online record of a person’s immigration status. It is designed to replace many physical documents previously used to prove the right to live, work, study, rent, or access services in the UK.
Crucially, an eVisa is not a new immigration permission. It is a digital way to show the permission a person already has.
Who needs a UK eVisa?
You are most likely to need an eVisa if you:
- live in the UK under a visa or immigration route and need to prove that status digitally; or
- previously relied on physical evidence such as a biometric residence permit (BRP) or a visa vignette/sticker; or
- hold settlement shown in older paper documents, and need to modernise how your status is recorded.
In practice, the groups affected are broad because the UK is moving away from physical status documents across many routes.
How to get an eVisa
The process depends on your circumstances, but it generally involves accessing your immigration status through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.
Typical steps include:
- Creating or signing into a UKVI account
- Linking your identity document (usually the passport you travel with)
- Following the prompts to access your digital status record
If your settlement is recorded in older documents, you may need to use the Home Office route that converts that evidence into a digital record (often referred to as an update to a “no time limit” status record).
How much does a UK eVisa cost?
In many cases, accessing or switching to an eVisa is free, as it is part of the government’s transition to digital status. However, costs can arise if you need to apply for a new immigration permission or a separate document linked to your situation.
How long is an eVisa valid?
An eVisa lasts as long as your underlying immigration permission lasts. If your permission has an end date, your eVisa reflects that. If you have a settlement, your digital record is intended to reflect an ongoing right to live in the UK.
eVisa or ETA: which one do you need?
The key distinction is whether you already hold UK immigration permission or are travelling as a short-stay visitor.
An eVisa is for people who have permission to live, work or study in the UK and need to prove that status digitally — for example, if they previously relied on a biometric residence permit (BRP) or a visa vignette.
An ETA is designed for visa-free visitors. You will usually need an ETA if you are coming to the UK for a short stay (such as tourism, visiting family, business travel or short study), you are a national of a country that does not require a visa for short visits, and you do not already have UK immigration status.
The government says that from 25 February 2026, transport operators such as airlines, ferry companies and rail hauliers will be expected to check that passengers have the required digital permission to travel — either an ETA or an eVisa — before they board, unless an exemption applies.
UK ETA: who needs it, how to apply, cost and validity
An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a pre-travel clearance for many travellers who visit the UK without a visa.
It is aimed at people who can enter the UK for short stays under visa-free rules — but who will now need an additional digital authorisation before travelling.
Who needs a UK ETA?
You will generally need an ETA if you:
- are travelling to the UK as a visitor for a short stay (tourism, family visits, business travel, or short study); and
- are from a country whose nationals do not need a visa for short visits; and
- do not already hold UK immigration permission (for example, a visa or settlement).
You do not need an ETA if you:
- have a British passport or an Irish passport; or
- already have permission to live, work or study in the UK and can prove it (increasingly via an eVisa).
What an ETA allows you to do
An ETA is intended to cover short visits. It does not turn a visitor into a resident, and it does not replace a visa for people who need one.
It also does not guarantee entry: border officers can still refuse entry if someone does not meet the rules at the point of arrival.
How much does a UK ETA cost?
The ETA fee is £16. The government has repeatedly warned travellers to use the official route, as some third-party websites charge extra.
How long does a UK ETA last?
ETAs are designed to cover multiple journeys over a longer period. They remain valid for two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. Each trip is still limited by the visitor rules, including the standard maximum stay length for visitors.
How to apply for an ETA
Most people apply via the official UK ETA app or the online route. The process typically involves:
- providing passport details (the passport you will travel with)
- submitting a photo if required
- paying the fee
Many applications are decided quickly, but travellers are advised to apply in advance in case additional checks are needed.
Dual British citizens: UK passport required from 25 February 2026
One of the most sensitive changes is aimed at people who hold British citizenship and another nationality.
From 25 February 2026, dual British citizens will not be able to use an ETA as a workaround when travelling on a non-British passport. Instead, they will need to prove their right of entry through accepted evidence of British (or Irish) status.
What dual British citizens must do
If you are a dual citizen and one of your nationalities is British, you will need to travel with:
- a valid UK passport, or
- a valid Irish passport, or
- another passport that contains a certificate of entitlement confirming the right of abode.
The practical impact is straightforward: if you travel on or after 25 February 2026 without the correct document, you may be treated as a foreign national who needs permission to travel — and could face problems boarding.
Why the UK is enforcing this
The change falls within a broader “permission to travel” approach, under which hauliers are expected to verify that passengers have the required clearance before travel.
A non-UK passport does not automatically show the holder’s British citizenship, so the system relies on travellers presenting documentation that clearly proves the right to enter the UK as a British citizen.
What if you do not have a UK passport?
For many dual citizens, the simplest option will be to apply for or renew a UK passport.
An alternative is a certificate of entitlement in another passport, which proves the right of abode. This route is typically more expensive and can take time, so anyone affected is advised to plan ahead.
