Eta Travel: New UK digital permission enforced from 25 February leaves dual nationals at risk

A new digital pre‑clearance system for visitors arriving to the UK has moved into mandatory operation, and eta travel requirements are already affecting travellers and families. The change centralises permission to travel in an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and has prompted urgent action from dual nationals trying to meet the new documentation rules.

Eta Travel and dual nationals

The Home Office and the wider rollout make it clear that British citizens with a second nationality risk being barred from travel if they cannot present the correct British documentation. The rules state that dual nationals must present a British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement to prove their right to enter the UK; carriers may, at their discretion, accept some expired British passports as alternative documentation. Under this implementation dual nationals are not eligible to obtain an ETA and so cannot rely on that route.

Who needs an ETA and who is exempt

• From 25 February the requirement applies to visitors from 85 nationalities who previously travelled visa‑free, including citizens of the United States, Canada, France and Australia.
• British and Irish citizens are exempt from needing an ETA or a visa, but will need to present a valid British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement when travelling to or through the UK.
• There are a small number of other exceptions, for example people with settled status and children travelling from France on school trips.
• People who usually require a visa will continue to need a visa and do not need an ETA in addition to that visa.

How the ETA works: validity, cost and scope

The ETA is a digital permission to travel to the UK. Once approved, an ETA permits multiple entries and allows the holder to stay for up to six months per visit. Each ETA remains valid for two years or until the traveller's passport expires, whichever is sooner. The ETA covers visits for tourism, business or short‑term study and can also be used when passing through the UK as part of a longer journey, but travellers who transit through UK airports without passing through border security do not need an ETA.

The fee for obtaining an ETA at launch is £16, with plans to raise the charge to £20 in future. The government describes the ETA as a measure that will streamline and speed up the immigration system and make border processing more secure. The cost has been framed as competitive in comparison with other jurisdictions; published comparisons note the US ESTA currently costs $40 and the EU ETIAS is expected to cost €20 when implemented.

Enforcement, carrier checks and connecting flights

From the effective date non‑visa nationals who try to travel to the UK without an ETA can be refused boarding by carriers. International carriers will check passengers for valid permission or status to travel to the UK in the same way they do for visa nationals. ETAs are also mandatory for travellers making connecting flights in the UK. Those who do not present the required British documentation at the carrier's check‑in may be denied travel on flights, ferries or trains.

Reported disruption and pleas for a grace period

The new rules have been associated with significant disruption for some dual nationals and their families. Campaign groups, political figures including the Liberal Democrats and the3million campaign group, and former minister David Davis asked for a grace period to allow British dual nationals time to obtain passports or Certificates of Entitlement, but the government declined to create one. Accounts shared in recent coverage describe a man cancelling a flight to his father’s memorial service, a family missing a grandparent’s 80th birthday and another traveller cancelling a trip to Spain for a wedding.

Specific instances cited include a constituent living in the Netherlands who could not visit a dying mother in a care home in Yorkshire because her passport was awaiting renewal; a British couple on honeymoon in New Zealand who scrambled to end their holiday when the husband, a dual national, did not have his British passport with him; and EU citizens who have recently naturalised in the UK but cannot apply for a British passport until their citizenship ceremony and so may not obtain travel documents in time for imminent plans. Those impacted say the notification of the new rules was not communicated effectively to dual nationals.

Implementation timeline and government statements

The ETA scheme was launched in October 2023 but was initially not strictly enforced to give visitors time to adjust. In November the government announced that ETAs would be mandatory from 25 February, and that date is now in force. The government has characterized the scheme as part of a wider programme to digitise and streamline border controls. Migration minister Mike Tapp has urged travellers to ensure they are travel ready and have the right permission to smooth their journeys, and described the ETA as an important part of strengthening border security and delivering a more efficient, modern service for visitors and the public.

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People arriving under the new system will still need to go through passport control on arrival (file photo). Details on how the scheme operates today are already in effect; further clarifications about implementation and discretion exercised by carriers are unclear in the provided context.