UK enforces digital permission for visitors from 85 countries

Visitors from 85 countries must obtain an electronic travel permit before arriving in Britain from Wednesday or risk being denied boarding, the interior ministry said. The Electronic Travel Authorisation, introduced in 2023, requires visa-exempt travellers to apply online and pay 16 pounds. Enforcement becomes mandatory from February 25.This means that airlines will prevent passengers from boarding if they do not have an ETA, eVisa or ‌other valid documentation, the interior ministry said.Authorities say this will create "a more streamlined, digital immigration system which will be quicker and more secure for the millions of people who pass through the UK border each year".
British and Irish citizens, including dual citizens, as well those ​with the right to live in the UK, are exempt from needing an ETA. "The ETA scheme is a vital part of our work ​to strengthen the UK's border security, helping to deliver a more ​efficient and modern service that works for both ​visitors and the British public," migration minister Mike Tapp said. 
In October last year, the European Union (EU) ​began rolling-out its much delayed post-Brexit border security checks for UK nationals entering the bloc. Britain formally left the EU in 2020. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) removes the requirement to manually stamp passports at the EU's external borders ⁠and instead creates digital records.All visitors to the UK must either have an ETA or an eVisa, with carriers checking people before they travel.
However, travellers have complained the new system's introduction has caused delays at ⁠some airports, ​and industry leaders have expressed concern that full implementation at Easter could cause widespread disruption. The ETA is a digital permit for short stays in the UK – not a visa or tax. It only applies to travellers who don’t already need a visa, like those from the EU, Canada and the US. It allows visitors to stay in the UK for up to six months to visit family or for tourism purposes.
The UK government says ETAs are expected to significantly help in modernising the UK immigration system by streamlining its digitisation and helping pave the way towards a contactless UK border down the line. It also claims they will help improve security and migration management.