Travelling Back to the UK? Important Information About New UK Entry Requirements and Travel Disruptions

Since April 2, 2025, when EU nationals visiting the UK became required to have an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), we have become aware of many people with pre-settled and settled status experiencing problems when flying back to the UK. Because of these new UK entry requirements, airlines are now obliged to check that all passengers either have an ETA or can prove a valid immigration status before allowing them to board. Unfortunately, this has led to difficulties for many travellers. In this post, we offer advice on how to be prepared and what steps to take if you face similar issues.

Why are these problems happening?

Airlines are responsible for ensuring that people travelling to the UK have the right to enter the country. If they transport someone who does not, they risk being fined and must return the passenger at their own expense.

Since the ETA became a requirement for most visitors from April 2, airlines—worried about financial penalties—are making sure all passengers either have an ETA or valid immigration status.

Unfortunately, this has disrupted travel for some people with pre-settled and settled status, who do not need an ETA but still must prove their status when requested. We have heard many stories of people facing difficulties boarding planes to the UK, despite having the right to enter and reside in the country.

What used to be a simple process for EU nationals travelling to the UK (except for those using their National ID cards, who already had to prove their status) has now become stressful, especially for those who do not have strong digital skills.

What to do when the airline asks for proof of your right to enter

If the airline cannot automatically confirm your status, they may ask you to log into your digital status (known as eVisa) account.

In the UK Government’s guidance for carriers, they are instructed:

“Where a passenger does not have a valid physical visa or visa exemption document, you may also accept evidence of UK status where this is provided by the passenger via the online ‘View and Prove’ service. In order to provide this evidence a passenger will need to log onto their eVisa account and generate a share code. You can then use the share code (and the passenger’s date of birth) to check the passenger’s status information using the ‘Check someone’s immigration status’ service on gov.uk“

It seems that many airlines are satisfied with just viewing the eVisa profile on a phone, or sometimes even the PDF letter from the Home Office confirming settled or pre-settled status (although the letter itself states it is not proof of status).

However, this still requires the traveller to log into their eVisa account to access their status. It is crucial that everyone with pre-settled or settled status updates their eVisa account with a valid ID document and contact details (email and phone number). Otherwise, they may not be able to access their status and risk being denied boarding.

More information about how to access and update your eVisa account can be found in this blog post.

If the carrier cannot verify the passenger’s permission to travel, they should contact the UK Border Force Carrier Support Hub. Unfortunately, the 24/7 passenger helpline that was announced by the Home Office at the end of last year is no longer available.

To avoid disruptions at the border, some people have found it useful to take all the following actions:

• Keep a screenshot of their status saved on their phone in case the government webpage does not work.

• Carry the PDF decision letter from the Home Office confirming settled or pre-settled status (but remember, this is not an official proof of the status).

• Generate a share code before travelling, which allows the airline to check your immigration status directly. As the UK Government guidance for carriers states:

> Passengers can provide evidence of UK status via the online ‘View and Prove’ service by generating a share code. The carrier can then use this code and the passenger’s date of birth to check their status information using the ‘Check someone’s immigration status’ service.

You can create a share code by logging into your eVisa account through the ‘View and Prove your immigration status’ service on the gov.uk website. You can find instructions on how to generate a share code in our blog post here.

I have pre-settled or settled status. Can I just pay for an ETA and avoid these problems?

No — and it’s very important not to do this.

If you apply for an ETA and enter the UK using it, you will be treated as a visitor, not as someone with residence rights. This means:

• You would not be able to work, claim benefits, or access services as a resident.

• Your pre-settled or settled status might not be recognised when you enter.

• You could risk serious problems with your immigration status in the future.

We understand that some people are considering this option out of fear, especially after hearing about boarding problems. However, if you have pre-settled or settled status, you must always travel as a resident, not as a visitor.

Make sure you follow the steps outlined earlier in this post:

• Keep your eVisa account details up to date, including your ID document, email, and phone number.

• Be ready to log into your eVisa account if asked.

• Take a screenshot of your status.

• Have the PDF decision letter available (if you have it).

• Generate a share code before travelling.

What to do if you have been affected by this problem

If you have experienced problems returning to the UK, you can report them on the the3million website. They are interested in hearing from people who were denied boarding and those who were allowed to fly but faced stressful situations.

The3million has been campaigning for a long time for the introduction of physical proof of immigration status, which would prevent many of these problems.

If you would like to take your case further, you can also contact your local MP to raise a complaint about the Home Office’s policy of digital-only immigration status, their refusal to offer physical documents, and the requirement for carriers to demand proof of status from passengers—all of which unfairly place the burden on travellers.

For more information about your travel rights after Brexit, see our detailed guide here.