The Ministry of Defence has announced several important updates to immigration, exemption and travel processes that will come into effect from 25 February 2026. These changes affect some Non‑UK Service Personnel (SP) and foreign national family members, so we’ve summarised what you need to know in plain English.
Our aim, as always, is to help you travel confidently and avoid unnecessary disruption.
1. Service Personnel Do Not Need an ETA
Service Personnel – regardless of nationality – do not need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter or re‑enter the UK.
This exemption also applies to:
Foreign national dependants travelling with the SP.
If you have a valid exempt from immigration control vignette in your passport, you can continue using it for travel alongside your military ID or letter of authority.
Family members with a vignette in an expired passport can still use it but must carry both their expired and current passport.
2. Who Does Need an ETA?
Only certain wider family members – for example parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins – who are non‑visa nationals and visiting or transiting through the UK will need an ETA.
If you’re unsure whether a family member is a visa or non‑visa national, the gov.uk ETA pages provide country‑by‑country guidance.
3. Exempt Status Vignettes & the Move to Digital Records
Under UK law, non‑UK Regular SP are exempt from immigration control. Traditionally, this has been a vignette in their passport.
From 25 February 2026, those who:
are eligible
are based outside the UK, and
have renewed their passport
…will be able to apply online for a digital record of exemption.
What’s staying the same for now:
eVisas are not yet fully rolled out to non‑UK SP.
New recruits, those in Basic Training, and SP renewing their home‑nation passports must continue applying by post to UKVI Croydon.
Non‑UK reservists are eligible for an exempt vignette only if mobilised on operation
4. eVisas for Foreign National Families
Some foreign national families of UK Armed Forces personnel are already on the eVisa system.
If this applies to you:
Make sure your passport details are correctly updated in your UKVI online account before travelling.
Families with a physical vignette can keep using it until it expires — and again, if it’s in an expired passport, carry both passports when travelling.
5. Universal Permission to Travel (UPT) Codes
UPT is the pre‑travel clearance system used by Border Force. Here’s what it means for you:
Service Personnel
If travelling on MOD aircraft, non‑UK SP receive a DUTY‑MIL or SA‑MIL status code.
This filters your details out of UPT checks.
If travelling on commercial flights, you will go through UPT like civilian family members.
Foreign National Family Members
Must have their details submitted to Border Force and will receive a SA‑CIV or DUTY‑CIV code.
MOD will act on whatever UPT code is returned.
If no code is returned, the passenger cannot travel – meaning they must ensure they can provide a valid vignette or sharecode.
These changes sit at the intersection of immigration policy and military life – a space where confusion can quickly lead to preventable travel issues, stress, or even separation. As the RAF Families Federation, we will always work to ensure Service Personnel and families get the clearest information possible, and we will raise systemic problems with MOD when we see them emerging.
If these new arrangements cause difficulty or uncertainty for you, please let us know so we can support you and, where needed, challenge processes on your behalf.
See also: Overseas
