Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Update February 2026

The BCCJ is committed to sharing timely and relevant updates on life, work and travel in both Japan and the UK. Please see the following message from the UK Home Office.

From Wednesday, 25 February 2026 the following changes will be introduced, impacting how people travel to the UK.

• Visitors from 85 nationalities, including Japan, who do not need a visa will not be able to legally travel to the UK without an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
• Dual-British citizens must enter with a British Passport or a Certificate of Entitlement.

Dual nationals who do not hold a valid British passport (for example, children or those whose passport has expired) should apply for one as soon as possible, or acquire a Certificate of Entitlement. Otherwise, they risk being denied entry.

Please note that the Consular team at British Embassy Tokyo cannot help with visa, passport or ETA matters directly – as this falls under Home Office responsibilities.

For full details from the official Home Office website, click here.

Eligible visitors who take connecting flights (transiting) and go through UK passport control need an ETA. Those transiting through Heathrow and Manchester airports who do not go through UK passport control do not currently need an ETA.

How to Apply for an ETA

Applying for an ETA is quick and simple and most applicants currently get an automatic decision in minutes when applying through the UK ETA app. To learn more or apply for an ETA, visit GOV.UK.

Pricing

An ETA costs £16 (as of 20 February 2026) and permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner. Other application services may charge a higher fee than the UK Government. The cost of an ETA is kept under review, and there are plans to increase the fee to £20 in the future.

Q&A

A comprehensive Q&A section in regard to the ETA can be found here.