Statutory Instruments
2026 No. 87
IMMIGRATION
The Immigration (Electronic Travel Authorisations and the Islands) Regulations 2026
Made
2nd February 2026
Laid before Parliament
4th February 2026
Coming into force
26th February 2026
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 11D(1), (2) and (4) of the Immigration Act 1971(1).
Citation, commencement and extent
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Immigration (Electronic Travel Authorisations and the Islands) Regulations 2026.
(2) These Regulations come into force on 26th February 2026.
(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Interpretation
2. In these Regulations—
“ an Island ETA ” means an authorisation in electronic form granted under the law of any of the Islands( 2 ) to travel to that Island.
Recognition of Island ETAs
3.—(1) This regulation applies where under the law of any of the Islands a person is granted an Island ETA.
(2) A person falling within paragraph (1) shall, during the period of validity of their Island ETA, be treated as if they are the holder of an ETA(3).
(3) Where a person is granted an Island ETA subject to any such conditions as are authorised under the law of that Island, then that person shall be treated as if those conditions had been imposed as conditions of an ETA granted under immigration rules made pursuant to section 11C(2) of the Immigration Act 1971(4).
(4) Nothing under this regulation shall be taken as requiring a person to be permitted to travel to the United Kingdom contrary to the operation of a scheme made under section 22(1) of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015(5).
Cancellation or variation of an Island ETA in the United Kingdom
4.—(1) An Island ETA having effect in the United Kingdom by virtue of regulation 3(2) may be cancelled or varied by the Secretary of State or an immigration officer under immigration rules made pursuant to section 11C(2) of the Immigration Act 1971 as if it were an ETA granted under those rules.
(2) Where an Island ETA is cancelled or varied under paragraph (1), regulation 3(2) and (3) shall cease to apply to it or, as the case may be, shall apply to it as varied.
Effects in the United Kingdom of an Island ETA being cancelled or varied under the law of any of the Islands
5.—(1) Where an Island ETA is cancelled or varied—
(a)under the law of the Island which granted it, or
(b)under the law of a different Island to that which granted it, insofar as it has effect under the law of that Island,
that cancellation or variation shall have effect in the United Kingdom as if it were done by the Secretary of State or an immigration officer under immigration rules made pursuant to section 11C(2) of the Immigration Act 1971.
(2) Where an Island ETA is cancelled or varied under paragraph (1), regulation 3(2) and (3) shall cease to apply to it or, as the case may be, shall apply to it as varied.
Effects in the United Kingdom of an ETA being varied or cancelled under the law of any of the Islands
6.—(1) This regulation applies where any of the Islands treats a person who has been granted an ETA as being the holder of an Island ETA and where that ETA, insofar as it has effect under the law of that Island, is cancelled or varied.
(2) A cancellation or variation falling within paragraph (1) shall have effect in the United Kingdom as if done by the Secretary of State or an immigration officer under immigration rules made pursuant to section 11C(2) of the Immigration Act 1971.
Mike Tapp
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Home Office
2nd February 2026
1971 c. 33. Section 11D was inserted by section 75(2) of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (c. 36).
See section 33(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 for the definition of “the Islands”.
See section 11C(1) of the Immigration Act 1971, as inserted by section 75(2) of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, for the definition of “an ETA”.
1971 c. 33. Section 11C was inserted by section 75(2) of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022.