United Kingdom Visa and Travel News
Since October 6, 2026, the UK has been gradually rolling out a new generation of automated border checks allowing travelers to pass through eGates without placing their passport on the scanner. Initially available only to British citizens, the technology will later be extended to other nationalities already eligible to use eGates, including European travelers.
The United Kingdom issued 23.2 million Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs) in the 12 months ending June 2026. US citizens remain by far the largest group of ETA recipients, followed by Germans and French nationals.
Kanye West, Hasan Piker and Valentina Gomez are among the recent examples of people barred from entering the UK under the country’s discretionary immigration powers. A new House of Commons Library briefing highlights how British authorities can refuse or cancel a visa, entry permission or ETA when a foreign national’s presence is considered contrary to the “public good.”
The official UK ETA application service has been showing a message since Wednesday indicating that the portal is “currently busy,” with wait times sometimes exceeding one hour. British authorities have not announced any official outage at this stage.
The United Kingdom issued 25.1 million Electronic Travel Authorizations, or ETAs, in the year ending March 2026, according to new statistics released by the UK Home Office.
As of April 9, visa-exempt travelers to the United Kingdom can apply for an ETA to travel to Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man starting April 23, 2026.
As of April 8, 2026, the price of the Electronic Travel Authorization required for many visa-exempt visitors to the UK has risen from £16 to £20. The increase comes just one day before the system reaches a new stage in its rollout to Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man.
After Jersey, Guernsey has confirmed that ETA applications will open on April 9 for direct travel to the Crown Dependencies starting April 23. Applications will have to be submitted through the official UK government portal, while French nationals taking a day trip to the Channel Islands will remain exempt from the ETA requirement.
Starting April 8, 2026, visa-exempt travelers to the United Kingdom will have to pay a higher fee to obtain an ETA. The UK has released a new fee schedule confirming this increase, along with higher charges for many visa categories.
The Government of Jersey has clarified the rollout timeline for the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for direct travel to the Crown Dependencies.
As part of a communication on its digital transformation, the UK Home Office revealed several indicators highlighting how its digital immigration systems operate, including the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and the electronic visa (eVisa).
The UK Parliament has approved a regulatory measure allowing the legal cap on the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee to be increased, paving the way for a future rise in the price currently set at £16. At the same time, the government has announced the removal of Nicaragua and Saint Lucia from the ETA program and the upcoming introduction of a visa requirement for nationals of both countries.
As of February 25, 2026, the ETA is now definitively required for visa-exempt travelers planning a short stay in the United Kingdom. After several months of leniency, London has officially ended the transition period: without a valid ETA, boarding will be denied.
The Government of Jersey states that the British Crown Dependencies plan to introduce the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirement for direct travel to the islands “from April 2026.”
As the UK government’s public consultation on the introduction of a tourist tax in England concludes this Wednesday, February 18, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has released a study estimating that a £10 daily levy could result in at least £14 billion in potential economic losses.
