UAE residents planning trips to the United Kingdom later this year will need to secure a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before departure, under changes to the UK’s immigration and border controls.

From Wednesday, February 26, travellers flying from the UAE to the UK will not be allowed to board flights without an approved ETA if they are visiting visa-free for short stays of up to six months, according to a travel update issued by Dubai-based airline Emirates.

The requirement applies to UAE residents who do not need a visa for short visits to the UK, including tourism, family visits and business travel. British and Irish passport holders, as well as those who already have permission to live, work or study in the UK, are exempt.

The ETA rollout coincides with the UK’s wider shift away from physical immigration documents towards a fully digital system based on electronic visas, or eVisas.

Prove immigration status

UAE residents who hold a UK visa and rely on physical documents to prove their immigration status, including expired biometric residence permits or cards, are required to replace them with an eVisa and set up a UK Visas and Immigration online account. The change also affects those with indefinite leave to remain who currently use passport stamps to demonstrate their status.

UK authorities have advised travellers to ensure the passport they intend to use is correctly linked to their eVisa account before travel.

British nationals form one of the largest expatriate communities in the UAE, with an estimated 240,000 UK citizens living in Dubai. The new ETA requirement does not apply to them.