London: Starting Wednesday, February 25, 2026, the United Kingdom has officially transitioned to a fully digital transit system, making eVisas mandatory for Indian travellers and Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) required for non-visa visitors. This major overhaul replaces traditional paper-based visa stickers and physical documents with digital permissions linked directly to a traveller’s passport. Mike Tapp, the UK Minister for Migration and Citizenship, emphasized that these new rules are designed to strengthen border security while providing a smoother journey for legitimate travellers.
Under the new procedure, Indian nationals and other visa-required visitors will still need to visit an application centre for biometric registration, but they will no longer have to surrender their physical passport during the processing period. This digital shift ensures that immigration status cannot be lost or stolen and allows for instant verification by authorities. For visitors from 85 non-visa countries, such as the United States, Canada, and France, an ETA is now a legal requirement. The ETA costs £16, allows for multiple entries over a two-year period, and typically grants a decision within minutes via the UK ETA app.
The Home Office warned that airlines now have the authority to prevent passengers from boarding if they do not possess the correct digital documentation, including for those taking connecting flights that pass through passport control. All current visa holders living in the UK who previously used physical biometric residence permits (BRPs) or passport stickers must ensure their status is updated in the online UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) system. Additionally, starting Thursday, Certificates of Entitlement will move to a digital-only format, meaning they will no longer expire with a holder’s passport.
According to official figures, the transition has already seen over 10 million eVisas issued, while the ETA scheme has generated more than £383 million in revenue since its limited introduction in late 2023. While most digital decisions are automatic, the UK government recommends that all travellers apply at least three working days before their scheduled trip to account for any cases requiring additional manual review.
