Uk Eta enforcement leaves dual nationals scrambling for British passports
The uk eta electronic travel authorisation comes into force on 25 February, and the Home Office has said international carriers will check passengers for valid permission to travel — a change that could see British dual nationals refused boarding if they cannot present a British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement.
Uk Eta enforcement from 25 February
The scheme, launched in October 2023, becomes mandatory after the government said in November that ETAs would be required from 25 February. The government says the electronic travel authorisation will streamline the immigration system, speed it up and make it more secure. From 25 February, most people who have so far been able to travel visa-free — from 85 countries including the US and Australia — must hold an ETA before travelling to the UK.
What dual nationals must carry
British dual nationals who do not have a British passport could be stopped from entering the UK and may be denied boarding on flights, ferries or trains unless they present a valid British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement. The certificate costs £589. Applying for a British passport costs £94. 50, which the context contrasts as cheaper than the certificate. The Home Office has said it is not possible to get an ETA or visa to enter the UK as a British citizen, so dual nationals faced with only a foreign passport must secure either a British passport or the certificate.
Who needs an ETA and how much it costs
Non-visa nationals from 85 countries must obtain an ETA. Once approved, an ETA allows multiple journeys, permits stays of up to six months, and is valid for two years or until the traveller's passport expires. The initial fee for an ETA is £16, with plans to raise that to £20. The government recommends applying an app available on Google Play or the Apple App Store and says applicants will need to provide contact and passport details, a suitable photo and answers to a set of questions.
Transit, connecting flights and exemptions
The government has said people transiting through the UK as part of a journey will need an ETA if they have to pass through border security, while those who do not need to go through border security will not need one. Separately, the Home Office has said ETAs are mandatory for anyone making connecting flights in the UK. British and Irish citizens remain exempt from applying for an ETA or a visa to visit or travel through the UK. There are a few other exceptions, such as people with settled status and children travelling from France on a school trip. Irish citizens can continue to use their Irish passport to enter the UK.
Campaigners, MPs and personal stories
The government rejected calls for a grace period from families, the3million campaign group, the Liberal Democrats and former Conservative minister David Davis. A Home Office spokesperson said: "The UK is moving to a modernised digital immigration system to enhance our border security. From 25 February, international carriers will check all passengers for valid permission or status to travel to the UK – just as they currently do for visa nationals. " The spokesperson added that the correct permission for British citizens is a British passport or a foreign passport endorsed with a certificate of entitlement, and that carriers may at their discretion accept some expired British passports as alternative documentation.
Hundreds of dual nationals contacted campaigners and journalists in the week before enforcement to describe stress and disruption: one person cancelled a flight to a father's memorial service, a family missed a grandparent's 80th birthday and another cancelled a trip to Spain for a wedding. One constituent in the Netherlands said she could not visit her dying mother in a care home in Yorkshire because her passport was stuck awaiting renewal. Another British couple on honeymoon in New Zealand scrambled to end their holiday and cancel accommodation because the husband, a dual national, did not have his British passport with him. Others affected include EU citizens who have recently naturalised in the UK but are not permitted to apply for a British passport until their citizenship ceremony.
Practical steps and digital changes
The Home Office says it has been advertising the ETA changes since 2023 and advised dual nationals to make sure they had the right documents since October 2024. Those who already have a physical Certificate of Entitlement will automatically receive a new digital version, but will need to create a UK Visas and Immigration account to link it to their foreign passport. The government has said the scheme was introduced earlier but was not strictly enforced to give visitors time to adjust; those impacted say the rules, published on the government website in November, were not communicated effectively and many said they had not heard of the change until media coverage on 13 February.
With the new checks now in force, carriers will verify permission before departure, and travellers who usually require a visa will still need to obtain one rather than an ETA. The migration minister, Mike Tapp, urged travellers to ensure they are travel ready and have the right permission to make journeys smoother. The next confirmed milestones are continued carrier checks from 25 February and the planned fee rise for the ETA in the future.
