Eta Travel: UK enforces digital permission from 25 February as dual nationals face boarding risk
The UK’s new eta travel requirement comes into force on 25 February and makes digital permission to travel mandatory for most visitors from visa‑free countries. The change is intended to modernise the immigration system, but it has prompted urgent practical problems for dual nationals who do not hold British passports or documentary proof of their right to enter.
Eta Travel: how the system will work from 25 February
From 25 February non‑visa nationals from 85 countries will be legally required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK. The ETA is a digital permission to travel that permits multiple journeys, lasts for two years or until the holder’s passport expires (whichever is sooner), and allows visits of up to six months for tourism, business or short‑term study. Visitors who need to cross the border and pass through UK border control as part of a connecting journey will generally need an ETA, while travellers transiting through airports who do not go through border security will not need one.
Who will be checked and who can be refused boarding
Airlines, ferry and train operators will check passengers for valid permission or status to travel to the UK and may refuse to board anyone who cannot show the correct documentation. Non‑visa nationals trying to enter without a £16 ETA can be barred from travel. People who usually require a visa will continue to need that visa and do not need to apply for an ETA in addition.
Dual nationals and the immediate boarding risk
British citizens with a second nationality face a specific risk: 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. Dual nationals cannot obtain an ETA under the rules and so must travel on proof of British nationality. Carriers may, at their discretion, accept some expired British passports as alternative documentation. Campaigners, political parties and a former cabinet minister had sought a grace period to allow affected families and individuals to obtain passports or certificates, but that request was not accepted.
Real‑world disruption travellers
Hundreds of dual nationals have described stress and disruption caused by the timing and enforcement of the new rules. Examples include a man who cancelled a flight to his father’s memorial service, a family missing a grandparent’s 80th birthday, and another traveller who cancelled a trip to Spain for a wedding. A constituent living in the Netherlands was prevented from visiting a dying mother in a care home in Yorkshire because their passport was still with authorities for renewal. A British couple on honeymoon in New Zealand said they were rushing to end their holiday and cancel accommodation at considerable expense after discovering the husband, a dual national, did not have his British passport with him. Other affected people include EU citizens who have recently naturalised in the UK but are not permitted to apply for a British passport until their citizenship ceremony, leaving immediate travel plans in doubt.
Exemptions, validity, cost and government rationale
British and Irish citizens, including dual citizens, are exempt from needing an ETA or visa to visit or travel through the UK, but they are required to present a valid British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement when travelling. There are a few other exceptions, such as people with settled status or children travelling from France on a school trip. The ETA costs £16 at present and the government has said the fee will rise to £20 in future. Officials describe the ETA scheme as a measure to streamline, speed up and strengthen border security and urged travellers to ensure they have the right permission to make journeys smoother.
Timeline: rollout, prior notices and enforcement
The ETA scheme was launched in October 2023 and was not strictly enforced initially so visitors had time to adjust. The government published the rules on its website in November and announced that ETAs would be mandatory from 25 February. From that date carriers will prevent passengers from boarding if they do not hold an ETA, an eVisa or other valid documentation.
Travel arrangements remain subject to carrier discretion and border procedures; passport control on arrival will still apply for people coming to the UK under the new system. The rapid move to mandatory digital permission has created immediate practical challenges for dual nationals and others who say they were not effectively informed before enforcement began. Recent updates indicate enforcement is active from 25 February; details may evolve.
