Eta Travel: eta travel rules leave dual nationals at risk

The UK’s new eta travel system comes into force on 25 February, requiring visitors from dozens of countries to obtain an electronic travel authorisation before they travel. People will still need to go through passport control on arrival, and the move has created problems for dual nationals scrambling to get a UK passport to meet the new rules.

Who needs an ETA

From 25 February most people who until now could travel to the UK visa‑free will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation. The rules apply to people from 85 different countries, with examples cited including the United States, Australia, Canada and France. Non‑visa nationals who try to enter the UK without an ETA can be barred from boarding by airlines and barred from entering the UK; visitors of 85 nationalities are now legally required to have an ETA when travelling to the UK.

Eta Travel: who is affected

The government says the ETA is a digital permission to travel to the UK and that once approved it allows a visitor to stay for up to six months. An ETA will be valid for two years, or until the holder’s passport expires, and allows multiple journeys to the UK. The visit can be for tourism, business or short‑term study. People transiting through the UK as part of a journey may need an ETA if they cross the border, but people transiting through UK airports who do not need to go through border security will not need an ETA.

Exemptions and passport rules

British and Irish citizens are exempt from needing an ETA or a visa to visit the UK or to travel through it. Government guidance states that British and Irish citizens, including dual citizens, are exempt but will be required to present either a valid British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement when travelling to the UK; carriers at their own discretion may accept some expired British passports as alternative documentation. Under the latest rules, those who do not present a British passport or a certificate proving their right to enter the UK may be refused boarding on a flight, ferry or train.

Costs, apps and enforcement

Getting an ETA currently costs £16; the government has said it plans to increase the fee to £20 in the future. Guidance says an ETA permits multiple journeys and lasts for two years or until the passport expires. The government recommends applicants use an app available on Google Play or the Apple App Store to apply. Official material says the cost of an ETA is competitive and notes comparisons with other systems: the US ESTA costs $40 and the EU’s ETIAS is expected to cost €20 when implemented.

Impact on dual nationals

The change has prompted urgent calls for a grace period that were rejected by ministers. Campaigners and political groups including the3million, the Liberal Democrats and former Conservative cabinet minister David Davis asked for time for British dual nationals to adapt, but the government declined. 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: “The correct permission for British citizens is a British passport or a foreign passport endorsed with a certificate of entitlement. At their own discretion, carriers may accept some expired British passports as alternative documentation. ”

Reported disruptions and reactions

Hundreds of dual nationals contacted media outlets in the days before the change to describe stress caused by the rule. Examples include a man who cancelled a flight to his father’s memorial service, a family missing a grandparent’s 80th birthday party, and a person cancelling a trip to Spain for a wedding. One constituency case prompted David Davis to act after a constituent living in the Netherlands could not visit her dying mother in a care home in Yorkshire because her passport was stuck with authorities awaiting renewal. Another example is a British couple on honeymoon in New Zealand who said they were scrambling to end their holiday and cancel accommodation at great expense to get home before the new rule kicked in because the husband is a dual national who did not have his British passport with him. Others who contacted outlets included EU citizens who have recently naturalised in the UK but are not permitted to apply for a British passport until their citizenship ceremony, leaving them at risk of not receiving a passport in time for immediate travel plans. Many said they had known nothing of the rule until they read about it in the media in the last 10 days.

Government timeline and purpose

The ETA scheme was launched in October 2023 but the government said it was not strictly enforced at first to give visitors ample time to adjust to the new requirement. In November the government confirmed ETAs would be mandatory from 25 February. Officials have described the system as part of a wider streamlining and digitisation of border controls, saying ETAs will streamline the immigration system, speed it up and make it more secure. Migration minister Mike Tapp said: “I’d urge anyone wanting to travel to the UK to ensure they are travel ready and have the right permission, to make their journey much smoother. ”

Longer trips, and visits for work or longer study, will still require a visa; people who usually need a visa to travel to the UK will still need a visa and will not need to apply for an ETA as well. The rules were published on the government website in November, but those affected say they were not communicated in any effective way to dual nationals.

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