Air, rail and sea carriers may accept a 0A (board) response as permission to travel only for the document it was generated against, and must still check that document; guidance updated 26 October 2026.
Key facts
- Who: Air, rail and sea carriers carrying passengers to the UK
- From: Already in force (guidance updated 26 October 2026)
- Source: Document checks and charges for carriers
The guidance in Charging procedures: a guide for carriers (accessible) says a 0A (board) response may be accepted as satisfactory evidence of a passenger's permission to travel to the UK. This applies only where the document used for travel is the document against which the 0A response was generated. The same wording appears in section 2.2 (visas), section 2.3 (visa checks) and section 2.4 (Electronic Travel Authorisation, ETA).
Section 2.3 also says that, in all cases, checks must still be done to ensure the passenger's travel document is genuine, valid and in the possession of the rightful holder.
For passengers with a digital eVisa, the guidance says there may be no physical visa or permission document to inspect. Carriers do not need to check whether these passengers are travelling to, or transiting, the UK. Some eVisa holders also hold a physical document, and some passengers hold only a physical document. In those cases the carrier will receive a 0Z or 0B (check) message from the Home Office. A valid, genuine physical proof of permission also remains satisfactory evidence.
The guidance states that from 14 January 2026, non-visa nationals with a valid pending application to the EU Settlement Scheme automatically generate a 0A permission to travel message, where their eVisa account is linked to their current travel document. Visa nationals with a pending application do not have permission to travel until it is granted, unless they hold a valid visa or visa exemption document. A Certificate of Application or Acknowledgement of Application is not satisfactory evidence of status.
Under section 1.3, owners, agents or operators of a ship or aircraft may become liable for a Section 40 charge of £2,000 for every passenger arriving in the UK without the required documents. For a person who needs one, this includes a valid ETA. Section 2.4 says a carrier may be liable to a charge if a person requires an ETA but does not hold one.
What this means for applicants
Carriers should treat a 0A response as evidence of permission to travel only where the passenger is travelling on the document the response was generated against. They must also still check that the travel document is genuine, valid and held by the rightful holder.
Passengers who need an ETA and do not hold one may leave the carrier liable to a Section 40 charge of £2,000.
Related guide: UK electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme
Sources