Travel rules and requirements for countries all around the world are constantly changing, but some impact American and Canadian travelers more than others. Only two weeks ago, the Maldives issued a sweeping ban that impacts tourists born after 2006, which also applies to U.S. and Canadian vacationers. Another popular tourist destination—one that’s actually among the United States and Canada’s strongest allies—is changing its entry rules. And no, Americans and Canadians aren’t exempt from this visitor rule, like they might usually be.
On November 24, a travel warning was issued by the government of the United Kingdom to visitors from 85 countries, outlining a strict new rule for entry. That list of countries includes the U.S. and Canada. From early 2026, any traveler, including Americans and Canadians, who hasn’t followed the new rule will be denied entry into the UK and could be refused boarding if flying in.
Here’s what the new rule requires, how much it costs (yes, there’s a fee), how U.S. and Canadian travelers can prepare, whether there are any rule exemptions for Americans and Canadians, and what they might expect.
“No Permission, No Travel”: U.S. And Canadian Travelers Must Get Digital Permission To Visit The UK Under Tighter ETA Rules In 2026—Or Face Denied Entry
Travelers pass through automated passport border control e-gates at Heathrow Airport’s UK Border Force in London, United KingdomCredit: via Shutterstock
From February 25, 2026, American and Canadian travelers won’t be able to legally travel to the UK without an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), according to the UK government’s new warning, issued in a press release.
“No permission, no travel,” the UK government’s press release warns. “From February 2026, visitors will not be able to travel to the UK without advance permission,” it continues.
International visitors from the U.S. and Canada (as well as travelers from all 85 listed countries) will be mandated to obtain digital permission to enter the UK through two methods: either an ETA or an e-Visa. This requirement will be strictly enforced on Americans and Canadians from the deadline.
Shared by the UK Home Office to the UK Government’s website, the updated warning points out that airlines will be carrying out checks on passengers heading to the UK before they travel. This suggests air carriers could deny boarding to travelers at their departure airport who cannot show a valid ETA before their flight. If travelers without an ETA manage to somehow bypass those checks, it’s likely they’ll be denied entry to the UK upon arrival and could be returned to their port of origin.
ETA also applies to U.S. and Canadian travelers taking connecting flights and going through UK passport control.
However, there is an exception for some U.S. and Canadian visitors. Those who are dual British citizens are exempt from requiring an ETA. Still, the British government strongly encourages Americans and Canadians with dual British citizenship to carry a valid UK passport or certificate of entitlement when traveling to the UK from February 2026. Doing so should minimize issues with being denied boarding when heading to the UK.
How Much The UK’s ETA Costs For American And Canadian Travelers—And How To Get One
Applying for an ETA is similar to the United States’ ESTA application system and serves the same purpose. The UK government describes it as “quick and simple” through the official UK ETA app (a YouTube video from the UK Home Office showing how to apply for ETA can be seen above). It takes roughly 10–15 minutes to complete with a valid passport.
ETA applicants must also pay a £16 fee (approximately $21 USD or $30 CAD). That fee is currently not expected to change, unlike the USA’s ESTA fee, which doubled in price in September and is expected to generate billions for the U.S. by 2034, and the European Union’s ETIAS fee, which has already tripled before its launch in 2026.
An automatic decision is typically provided to ETA applicants in minutes; however, the UK government recommends allowing for at least three working days to account for cases that require an additional review, which is says is only a small number.
Why The UK Will Enforce The New ETA Rule On Travelers In 2026
UK Border Force police checking cars at the Eurotunnel terminal. Americans and Canadians entering the UK from Europe via the Eurotunnel or ferry must also apply for an ETACredit: via Shutterstock
According to the UK government, enforcing the new ETA rules more strictly is a step toward protecting UK borders, controlling immigration, and making travel smoother.
The UKs’s Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Mike Tapp, issued a statement that explains these reasons.
“ETAs give us greater power to stop those who pose a threat from setting foot in the country and gives us a fuller picture of immigration. ETAs are also better for travellers. Digitising the immigration system ensures the millions of people we welcome to the UK every year enjoy a more seamless travel experience,” said Tapp.
The move also appears to be part of plans to digitize the country’s immigration system and shift towards a contactless UK border in the future.
UK ETA Electronic Travel Authorisation reminder sign at Los Angeles airport in California, CA, USA. ETA became a requirement for Americans in 2025 but enforcement was lax.Credit: via Shutterstock
ETA was first launched in October 2023 and became a requirement for Americans and Canadians in January 2025. Warning signs appeared in airports in the U.S. and Canada at the time to remind those flying to the UK (like the one seen above at Los Angeles International Airport). But the rules were relaxed to permit travelers enough time to adjust to the new system.
The U.S. and Canada took a similar eased approach with their own similar travel permission schemes. Since then, more than 13.3 million international visitors have successfully applied for and been granted an ETA for the UK. And more Canadian and American travelers will soon be among the millions of applicants as of February 25 next year, when ETA’s full enforcement officially rolls out.
The UK is a popular tourist destination for Americans and Canadians, many of whom visit for leisure and to see family and friends. In fact, the U.S. is one of the UK’s most valuable sources of tourism, as is Canada on a lesser scale, according to market insights from Visit Britain.
U.S. And Canada Tourism Figures For The UK In 2024
Country
No. Of Visitors To The UK (2024)
Tourism Expenditure For The UK (2024)
U.S. (Source: Visit Britain)
5.6 million
£7.3B ($9.5B USD / $13.5B CAD)
Canada (Source: Visit Britain)
944,000
£890.9M in 2024 ($1.2B USD / $1.6B CAD)
5.6 million travelers from the U.S. visited in 2024, contributing around £7.3 billion (around $9.5 billion USD or $13.5 billion CAD) in tourism spending, according to Visit Britain. Although not quite as many, thousands of Canadians also visited the UK last year; Visit Britain notes that 944,000 visitors from Canada spent about £890.9 million in 2024 (around $1.2 billion USD or $1.6 billion CAD). Even so, Americans and Canadians won’t be exempt from any of the tighter ETA rules.