From 25 February 2026, visitors travelling to the UK face stricter passenger checks before they begin their journey. These checks mean immigration permission is now assessed at the point of departure rather than on arrival in the UK. For visitors, this represents a shift in where problems arise and how disruptive they can be.
The underlying rules on UK immigration status and on who can visit the UK have not changed. What has changed is the way those rules are enforced in practice.
Under the new rules, airlines and other carriers are required to confirm that a visitor holds valid UK immigration permission using Home Office digital systems before allowing them to board. Where that permission cannot be confirmed, travel may be refused.
Why Visitors Are Being Stopped Before They Fly
UK immigration permission for visitors is now recorded and checked digitally. Physical documents, past visas or previous travel history no longer determine how permission is recognised in practice. From 25 February 2026, carriers rely on system-based confirmation to decide whether a passenger can travel to the UK. This means that issues which might once have been dealt with by a Border Force officer on arrival are now preventing travel altogether. If the system cannot confirm that a visitor holds the correct form of permission, boarding can be refused even where the visitor believes they are eligible to enter the UK.
What Immigration Permission Means for UK Visitors
For visitors, UK immigration permission usually takes one of two forms. Some visitors are required to obtain advance permission in the form of an electronic travel authorisation (ETA). Others need to secure a Standard Visitor visa before travel. A smaller group of non-visa nationals may still be permitted to seek entry as visitors without prior approval, subject to meeting the visitor rules.
In all cases, immigration permission is separate from nationality and separate from the passport itself. A passport confirms identity and nationality, but it does not confirm whether a person has permission to visit the UK or what conditions apply to that visit.
Permission depends on what Home Office records show at the time a check is carried out. If the relevant record cannot be located, is incomplete or does not match the passport being used, the visitor may be treated operationally as not having permission confirmed, even where they believe they are eligible to visit.
Dual nationals face particular risk. Where a visitor holds more than one nationality, the passport used for travel determines how immigration permission is assessed. A person who would not require an ETA or visa on one passport may require advance permission on another. If the wrong passport is used, carrier systems may not locate valid permission and travel may be blocked.
British citizens do not require immigration permission to visit the UK. However, British dual nationals who travel on a non-British passport may be treated as visitors and subject to ETA or visa checks. Travelling on the correct passport is therefore critical.
Other fringe scenarios can also affect visitors. These include recent passport renewals, discrepancies in personal details, reliance on confirmation emails rather than live records, or assumptions based on previous travel. Under stricter pre-travel checks, these issues can prevent permission from being confirmed even where the visitor meets the substantive rules.
Common Issues Affecting Visitors
Many visitors caught by the stricter checks do not expect to face problems. Common issues include incorrect passport details, recent passport renewals that have not been reflected in digital records, or assumptions that previous visits guarantee future entry.
Some visitors assume that holding a valid passport from a non-visa national country is enough. Others rely on confirmation emails or historic documents rather than the live digital position. Under the new checks, these assumptions carry risk. Carrier systems do not assess intentions or past compliance. They confirm whether permission is visible and valid at the point of travel.
Why Problems Are Hard to Resolve at the Airport
Once a carrier has refused boarding, options are limited. Carriers have no discretion to override system responses and no ability to interpret immigration rules. Resolution usually requires engagement with Home Office processes to correct or confirm records, which takes time.
For visitors, this can mean cancelled trips, lost accommodation bookings or missed family events. Because these issues arise before travel begins, there is often no opportunity to resolve them quickly.
What Visitors Should Do Before Coming to the UK
Visitors should take proactive steps before travelling. This includes checking whether advance permission is required, ensuring passport details are accurate and allowing time for any necessary approvals to be confirmed. Relying on past travel experience or assumptions about eligibility is increasingly risky.
Where a visitor has recently renewed their passport or is unsure what form of permission applies to them, checks should be made well in advance of travel. Leaving these issues until close to departure increases the likelihood of disruption.
Key Points for UK Visitors
The stricter passenger checks taking effect from February 2026 do not change the visitor rules themselves. They change how strictly those rules are enforced before travel begins. For visitors, the practical message is clear. Permission to visit the UK now needs to be visible, accurate and confirmed digitally before departure. Those who check early are far less likely to face unexpected refusal when travelling to the UK.
