From 26 February 2026, the United Kingdom will recognise electronic travel authorisations issued by the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man as equivalent to UK ETAs for travel to the UK. The instrument was made on 2 February and laid before Parliament on 4 February, and extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Under the Immigration (Electronic Travel Authorisations and the Islands) Regulations 2026, a person granted an Island ETA is treated during its validity as if they hold a UK ETA under section 11C of the Immigration Act 1971. In the 1971 Act, “the Islands” means the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
Any conditions attached under Island law to the Island ETA apply in the UK as if imposed on a UK ETA by immigration rules made under section 11C(2). In practice, the same restrictions that accompany the Island ETA follow the holder when travelling to the UK.
The recognition does not override security-based carriage controls. Regulation 3(4) preserves schemes made under section 22(1) of the Counter‑Terrorism and Security Act 2015, meaning passengers may still be refused carriage even if they hold a valid Island ETA.
The Secretary of State or an immigration officer may cancel or vary an Island ETA insofar as it has effect in the United Kingdom, applying the immigration rules as if it were a UK ETA. Once cancelled or varied, the recognition either ceases or continues only on the varied terms.
Where the Island that granted an Island ETA cancels or varies it-or where a different Island does so in respect of its effect under that Island’s law-the same outcome applies in the United Kingdom. The Regulations treat those decisions as if made by UK authorities.
The Regulations also address the reverse position. If an Island treats a UK ETA holder as having an Island ETA and then cancels or varies that status under Island law, that cancellation or variation takes effect in the United Kingdom as if made under the UK immigration rules.
For carriers and border operations, the effect is a single travel authorisation recognised across jurisdictions, while authority‑to‑carry powers remain intact. Airlines, ferry operators and border staff should apply mirrored cancellation and variation decisions across systems when notified.
For travellers, a valid Island ETA functions in the UK as a UK ETA during its validity, subject to any conditions and security checks. This concerns authorisation to travel and does not confer leave to enter or remain or change visa requirements.
The legal basis is section 11D of the Immigration Act 1971, inserted by the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, which enables recognition of equivalent travel authorisations. The Regulations were signed by Home Office minister Mike Tapp on 2 February 2026 and commence on 26 February 2026.
The Explanatory Note confirms no full impact assessment, citing no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sector. The measure standardises administration between the United Kingdom and the Islands rather than creating new substantive entry rights.
Policy Wire analysis: mutual recognition and mirrored cancellations reduce the scope for exploiting differences between Island and UK systems, while an explicit carve‑out preserves security vetting under authority‑to‑carry powers.