Eta: What is the UK's new travel system and how are dual nationals affected?
A new electronic travel authorisation, or eta, will be required for most visitors who until now have been able to travel to the UK visa‑free. The system comes into force from 25 February and has already prompted dual nationals to scramble for British passports or other documentation.
How the Eta works
The eta is a digital permission to travel to the UK. From 25 February, most people who have been able to travel to the UK visa‑free until now will need an ETA. Once approved, an ETA will allow a visitor to stay in the UK for up to six months, will be valid for two years or until the traveller's passport expires, and will allow multiple journeys to the UK. The visit can be for tourism, business or short‑term study, or for people who cross the border and travel through the UK as part of a journey.
Who must apply and when
The new rules apply to people from 85 different countries, including dozens such as the US and Australia. Non‑visa nationals from those 85 countries must have an ETA before travelling as part of the government's move towards a fully digital border system. People who usually need a visa to travel to the UK will still need a visa; they will not need to apply for an ETA as well.
Exceptions and transit rules
British or Irish citizens will not need an ETA or a visa to visit the UK or to travel through it. There are a few other exceptions, such as those with settled status or children travelling from France on a school trip. People transiting through UK airports who do not need to go through border security will not need an ETA. Regardless of the eta system, people coming to the UK under the new system will still need to go through passport control on arrival.
Dual nationals' problems and costs
The introduction of the eta has created problems for dual nationals, who have been scrambling to get a UK passport to follow the new rules. Dual nationals who do not hold a British passport could be stopped from entering the UK and may be denied boarding a flight, ferry or train if they cannot present a valid British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement. A Certificate of Entitlement costs £589. Applying for a British passport is much cheaper at £94. 50, although processing time can leave travellers exposed if they must travel before a passport is issued.
Enforcement, advice and communications
The scheme was launched in October 2023 but was not strictly enforced initially to give visitors time to adjust. In November the government said ETAs would be mandatory from 25 February, and some coverage has described the new rules as coming into force from Wednesday or even as being enforced from today. The Home Office says it has been advising dual nationals to make sure they have the right documents to enter the UK since October 2024 and has been advertising about the ETA changes since 2023.
Cases, quotes and reactions
The Home Office has warned that international carriers will check all passengers for valid permission or status to travel to the UK, “just as they currently do for visa nationals. ” It 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 at their own discretion may accept some expired British passports as alternative documentation. A Home Office spokesperson said: "Without [a British passport or certificate of entitlement], carriers cannot verify they are a British citizen, which may lead to delays or refused boarding. "
One dual British‑French citizen, Florence Garland, said she had to cancel a trip to France next week because of the changes. Ms Garland became a British citizen in November but discovered her certificate had a typo and was forced to send it back. The corrected certificate took two‑and‑a‑half months to be re‑issued, leaving her with no time to apply for a British passport. Speaking on the programme Mornings with Ridge and Frost, she said she could no longer return to the UK from overseas on her French passport and added: "I feel really, really let down by this. " She also said: "Obviously, I had no communication when I applied for British citizenship, no communication during the ceremony. "
How to apply and fees
Getting an ETA currently costs £16, although the government has said it plans to increase the fee to £20 in the future. To apply, the government recommends downloading the app from Google Play or the Apple App Store. Longer trips and visits for work or longer study will require a visa rather than an ETA.
Call for British dual nationals
An organisation has asked British dual nationals who have been prevented from boarding a flight, ferry or train because they did not have a British passport or a certificate of entitlement to share their experiences using an online form. The request asks respondents to include as much detail as possible, notes the maximum file size for uploads is 5. 7 MB, asks that if other people's names are included permission is sought first, and says contact details will only be seen by the organisation handling submissions.
The new eta requirement has introduced new documentary checks before departure and at the border, and has left some dual nationals reconsidering travel plans while they await passports or certificates of entitlement.
