Carrier Checks Now Cover ETA and Valid Immigration Permission
25 Sep 2026
If you're travelling to the UK on any visa, make sure your ETA or visa is sorted before you fly, not after you land. UK Visas and Immigration has updated its guidance on document checks and charges for carriers, and airlines, ferries, and other carriers can now be fined if they carry you without the right permission.
The guidance was updated on 23 September 2026 to reflect that, from 22 September 2026, "carriers may be liable for financial penalties where a passenger requiring an ETA or other valid immigration permission arrives in the UK without the required permission to travel." In practice, this means carriers now have a stronger incentive to check your documents thoroughly before you board, rather than leaving problems to be sorted out at the UK border.
If you hold a visa or eVisa, this doesn't change your own requirements, but it raises the stakes if your documents aren't in order. Before you travel, check that your ETA (if you need one) or your visa and eVisa status are valid and that the airline or carrier can see the correct permission for your trip. If you're unsure whether you need an ETA alongside your existing visa, check your status on GOV.UK before you book or travel.
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