From February 2026, visitors will not be able to travel to the UK without advance permission.

Visitors from 85 nationalities, including the United States, Canada, and Israel, will not be able to legally travel to the UK without an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from 25th February 2026.

Carriers will be checking people before they travel.

Applying for an ETA is quick and simple through the official UK ETA app, and costs £16. While most people currently get a decision automatically in minutes, it is recommended to allow 3 working days to account for the small number of cases that require additional review.

An ETA lasts for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner. You can travel to the UK as many times as you want while you have an ETA.

This is the official site for applying for an ETA - beware of fake sites. https://www.gov.uk/eta/apply

Please note: If you enter the U.K. without an ETA before February 25, you can stay beyond this date without having to obtain one. Though you will need one on your next visit.

British and Irish citizens, including dual citizens, are exempt from needing an ETA. Currently, British Citizens holding dual nationality with any of these countries can enter the U.K. using their foreign passports without an ETA. As of February 25, 2026, that right disappears as the Home Office enforces new rules of entry. British and Irish dual nationals will only be able to enter the U.K. using their British or Irish passport. You cannot get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) if you’re a British or Irish dual citizen. 

The problem is for those Brits who only have a foreign passport and no proof of British citizenship. Without that passport, there’s no way for them to legally enter the U.K. They can’t get an ETA and so will be denied boarding when they try to fly or boat their way in.

If you were born overseas to British parents and have never owned a British passport, the law states you must register your citizenship and get a British passport before entering. In practice it’s likely many people will check to see if they’re already registered as a U.K. citizen and if not, just obtain an ETA and travel using their foreign passport. 

What Do U.K. Dual Citizens Need To Do To Enter The U.K.?
1. Use your British or Irish passport to travel to the U.K. From Israel it costs £127.36 to renew an adult passport, and £81.36 for a child (under 16) and takes up to three weeks. Applications must be made online through the GOV.UK website.

OR
2. Get a “certificate showing right of abode,” also known as a Certificate of Entitlement to use alongside your foreign passport. Incredibly, this costs £589 and will need to be renewed each time you renew your passport.

If you don't take these steps, you risk being denied boarding when travelling to the UK from 25 February 2026.

If you need to travel in an emergency:  In certain cases, you can apply for an emergency travel document - it’s valid for just one trip and costs £125 (about $170).