 "UK’s new travel rules explained: Will Indian travellers be affected?")
The United Kingdom is overhauling how short-term visitors are screened before they travel.
From Wednesday, a new requirement becomes compulsory for most people who previously entered the UK without advance permission: an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
While the ETA primarily targets citizens of visa-free countries, the policy change still has consequences for Indian travellers because it coincides with the UK’s “digital by default” push for visas and residence permissions.
What is the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)?
The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a digital travel clearance that must be obtained before boarding transport to the United Kingdom by visitors who do not usually need a visa for short stays.
It functions as a pre-travel screening step rather than a visa and does not amount to permission to enter the country.
Instead, it authorises a person to travel to the UK, after which they are still subject to standard border checks on arrival.
Once approved, an ETA allows multiple entries over a period of up to two years, or until the traveller’s passport expires, whichever happens first.
Each visit under the ETA framework can last for a maximum of six months and can cover purposes such as tourism, business travel, or short-term study.
It also applies to travellers who enter the UK during transit and go through passport control as part of their onward journey.
The authorisation is digitally attached to the passport used during the application process, which means there is no physical document to present at the border.
Airlines and other carriers verify ETA status electronically before allowing passengers to board.
While the UK government has indicated that travellers may wish to keep a copy of their approval for personal records, border processing is conducted through digital systems rather than paper checks.
The ETA scheme was introduced in 2023 but initially operated with a softer approach to compliance. Authorities allowed an extended transition phase to give travellers time to adapt to the new requirement.
That grace period ends in February 2026, after which holding an ETA becomes a prerequisite for boarding for eligible nationalities.
Who is required to obtain an ETA and who is not?
From February 25, 2026, the ETA becomes compulsory for citizens of around 85 countries that previously enjoyed visa-free access to the UK for short visits.
This includes travellers from countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and several European nations. These individuals, who could earlier arrive without any advance digital clearance, must now secure an ETA before beginning their journey.
The system does not replace visas.
People who are classified as visa nationals (like India) and already require a visa to visit the UK continue to follow the visa route and do not need to apply for an ETA in addition to that process.
British and Irish citizens are exempt from the ETA requirement.
Certain other groups are also excluded, including individuals with settled status and specific categories such as children travelling from France on organised school trips.
Passengers who are connecting through the UK and must pass through border control as part of their journey need an ETA if they are from an eligible visa-free country.
However, those who transit through airports such as Heathrow and Manchester without going through UK passport control are not currently required to obtain one.
Dual UK nationals are not eligible for an ETA. To travel to the UK, they must present either a British passport or a digital certificate of entitlement associated with their non-British passport.
What does the ETA application process include?
Applications for an ETA are submitted digitally through the official UK ETA app, available on major mobile platforms. The UK government recommends using this app as the primary method of applying.
The process involves paying the applicable fee, providing passport details, submitting contact information, uploading a compliant digital photograph, and responding to questions related to suitability and criminal history.
Applicants must use the same passport for travel that they used when submitting their ETA application, as the authorisation is electronically linked to that specific document.
Most applicants receive an automated outcome within minutes, reflecting the system’s reliance on digital checks and background screening.
However, authorities advise travellers to apply at least three working days before departure because a small number of cases require additional review.
If an application is rejected, the applicant is informed of the reason and can submit another application. If the application is refused, there is no appeal mechanism.
In such cases, individuals who still wish to travel to the UK must apply for a visa instead.
As of early 2026, the ETA fee is set at £16. The UK government has indicated that the charge is under periodic review and that there are plans to raise it to £20 in the future.
Officials have also cautioned travellers that third-party application services may impose additional charges beyond the official government fee.
Will Indian travellers be affected by UK’s ETA?
The short answer is – No.
Indian citizens are classified as visa nationals and therefore remain outside the ETA framework.
This means that Indian travellers cannot apply for an ETA and must continue to obtain a visa for short-term visits to the UK. The ETA system is exclusively for nationals of countries that previously did not require visas.
For Indian travellers, the key point of clarity is that the introduction of the ETA does not change their eligibility status.
Travellers from India visiting the UK for tourism, business meetings, or short-term study must still apply for a Standard Visitor Visa. Attempting to travel with an ETA instead of a visa is not permitted and can result in being denied boarding by airlines.
The timing of the ETA’s mandatory enforcement coincides with a shift in how the UK processes visas, which is why the change still affects Indian travellers in practical terms.
The UK is implementing a “digital by default” model for immigration permissions, altering how visas are issued and verified.
Physical visa vignettes, the stickers previously placed in passports, and most Biometric Residence Permits have been phased out for new applicants. Instead, visas are now issued as digital records linked directly to the traveller’s passport.
Indian applicants must use a UK Visas and Immigration online account to access and prove their immigration status. Airlines verify travel permission digitally at check-in, similar to how ETA status is checked for visa-free nationals.
This means that Indian travellers will no longer receive a physical sticker in their passport as proof of their UK visa. Their permission to travel exists as an electronic record within the UK’s immigration systems.
The shift changes the practical steps involved in preparing for travel. Indian travellers must ensure that their passport details are correctly linked to their digital visa record and that their UKVI account information is accurate.
Any mismatch between passport data and the digital record can lead to complications at check-in, as airlines rely on electronic verification of travel permission.
Because Indian citizens are not eligible for the ETA, they continue to incur the higher costs associated with UK visas.
As of 2026, the Standard Visitor Visa, which permits stays of up to six months for purposes such as tourism, short-term business, or short-term study, is priced at £127.
For those seeking longer validity, a two-year long-term visitor visa costs £475.
Student visas are priced at £524, while a 48-hour transit visa costs £70.
These fees do not include additional service charges levied by visa application centres or the Immigration Health Surcharge, which applies to longer-term stays.
As a result, the total cost of applying for a UK visa from India can be significantly higher than the headline visa fee alone.
Processing times for standard visa applications remain around 15 working days, or roughly three weeks.
Priority services are available for applicants who need faster decisions, with next-day outcomes offered at an additional cost of £500.
The move to digital eVisas has not altered these processing timelines.
The rollout of the ETA and the UK’s digital immigration reforms have created opportunities for confusion, particularly among travellers unfamiliar with the distinctions between visas and ETAs.
There have been warnings about unofficial websites claiming that Indian citizens can obtain a low-cost ETA for travel to the UK.
Such claims are inaccurate.
The UK’s adoption of an ETA places it in line with a growing number of countries that require advance digital authorisation from visa-free visitors.
Similar systems are already in place in countries such as Canada and the United States. These schemes operate on comparable principles: pre-travel screening, electronic linkage to passports, and multiple-entry validity over a set period.
The UK ETA programme has been in operation since October 2023, albeit without strict enforcement during its initial phase. According to official data, 19.6 million ETAs were issued from the launch of the scheme through to the end of September 2025.
With inputs from agencies
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