From 26 February 2026, the UK ETA will be required for all visa-exempt passengers travelling to the United Kingdom, affecting travellers from the UAE, GCC, EU, Australia, Singapore and more.
Summary: From 26 February 2026 the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (UK ETA) will be mandatory for all visa-exempt travellers heading to the United Kingdom. Airlines will refuse boarding without an approved ETA; the application costs £16 and is valid for two years or until passport expiry.
Emirates has issued an urgent advisory after the British Home Office confirmed the full rollout of the UK’s digital border system. Effective 26 February 2026, all travellers from visa-exempt countries must obtain a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before attempting to board flights to the United Kingdom. The requirement applies to residents and visitors in the UAE and extends to GCC nationals, EU citizens, Australians, Singaporeans and others who currently travel visa-free.
What the New UK ETA Rule Requires
The UK ETA must be applied for through the official UK government website or the designated mobile app. Applicants pay a fee of £16 (approximately AED 80) for an authorisation that lasts two years or until the traveller’s passport expires, whichever comes first. Airlines, including Emirates, will check that passengers hold an approved ETA before permitting boarding, mirroring the pre-departure verification model used by the US ESTA system.
Who Is Affected and Who Is Exempt
The requirement impacts visa-exempt travellers from countries such as the UAE, EU members, Australia and Singapore. Travellers who already hold a valid UK visa or a UK residence permit are not required to apply for an ETA immediately; however, those document holders will need to move to the UKVI e‑Visa platform by the end of 2026 as part of the wider digital transition.
Operational Impact on Business Travel and Corporates
UAE-based companies and frequent business travellers should factor the ETA into short-notice trips. Travel managers will be required to add ETA receipt numbers into Global Distribution System (GDS) profiles, adding a step to corporate booking workflows. The ETA processing time is typically up to 72 hours, and some applicants may face longer waits if secondary security checks are triggered.
- Effective date: 26 February 2026
- Fee: £16 (≈ AED 80)
- Validity: Two years or until passport expiry
- Processing: Up to 72 hours; may be longer for additional checks
- Requirement: Each traveller, including children, needs an individual ETA
Practical Steps for Travellers
Apply via the official UK ETA website or mobile app and pay the £16 fee using a debit or credit card. Ensure passports have at least six months’ validity because the ETA expires with the passport. Apply well in advance of travel — applications can take up to 72 hours and may be delayed by additional checks. Families must submit separate ETAs for every individual, regardless of age.
To manage larger volumes or corporate travellers, businesses can use third-party portals such as VisaHQ’s UAE service to submit ETAs in bulk and reduce administrative load. Airlines will refuse boarding for passengers without a confirmed ETA, so carriers and travel companies have a stake in ensuring compliance.
Why the UK Is Moving to a Digital Border
The UK’s digital border programme is intended to strengthen pre-departure security checks and streamline arrival procedures. By vetting travellers before they travel, the government aims to reduce time spent at passport control and to enable ETA holders to use frictionless e-gates in future, shortening queues and speeding up entry processing.
Airlines and airport operators will need to adapt operations to the new requirement, and travel agents should update booking processes to collect ETA references. Failure to comply could lead to denied boarding and financial or operational consequences for carriers carrying non-compliant passengers.
So what? What This Means for You
The new UK ETA requirement adds a mandatory pre-departure step for visa-exempt travellers. For leisure visitors it means planning ETA applications into trip preparation. For business travellers and companies, it requires process changes to booking workflows and GDS entries to avoid last-minute disruptions. Applying early, using the official UK platform, and ensuring passport validity are the simplest ways to stay compliant and keep travel plans on track.
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