Eta Travel Permit: UK digital travel rules kick in and dual nationals face immediate hurdles
From 25 February the UK’s new digital system requires an eta travel permit for most visitors from visa-free countries, a change that officials say will streamline and strengthen border checks but that has already created widespread disruption for dual nationals and travellers with immediate plans.
Eta Travel Permit: who is affected
The new requirement applies to visitors from 85 nationalities. Examples named in official guidance include citizens of the United States, Canada, France and Australia. Most people who until now travelled to the UK without a visa must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation before travel.
How the ETA works, fees and limits
An ETA is a digital permission to travel to the UK. Once approved, an ETA permits multiple journeys and allows holders to stay in the UK for up to six months. The ETA is valid for two years or until the traveller’s passport expires, whichever is sooner. The ETA covers travel for tourism, business or short-term study; longer visits, work or extended study require a visa.
The standard application fee is £16, with plans to increase the charge to £20 in future. Officials have described the fee as competitive and aligned with similar schemes elsewhere, noting comparisons with the US ESTA fee and the expected fee for the EU’s future ETIAS.
Transit, visas and exemptions
Travellers who transit through UK airports without passing through border control do not need an ETA. However, people who cross the UK border as part of a journey will need an ETA. Those who ordinarily require a visa to enter the UK will still need that visa and do not need to apply for an ETA in addition.
British and Irish citizens are exempt from needing an ETA or a visa to visit or travel through the UK, but they are required to present either a valid British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement when travelling to the UK. Carriers retain discretion and may accept some expired British passports as alternative documentation.
Practical impact on dual nationals and border checks
Under the enforced rules, carriers 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. Dual nationals cannot obtain an ETA under the current rules and must instead present a British passport or a certificate proving their right to enter the UK; failing to do so can result in refused boarding on flights, ferries or trains.
Requests for a grace period to allow dual nationals time to obtain British passports or certificates were not granted. Campaigners, political figures and families had urged for a temporary allowance, but that plea was not accepted. The government has made clear that from 25 February international carriers will check all passengers for valid permission in the same way they check visa nationals.
Reported disruption and communication concerns
Hundreds of dual nationals have described immediate stress and disruption. Examples include a man cancelling a flight to his father’s memorial service, a family missing an 80th birthday, and a traveller cancelling a trip to Spain for a wedding. One constituent living in the Netherlands was said to be unable to visit a dying mother in a care home in Yorkshire while their passport was awaiting renewal. A British couple honeymooning in New Zealand described scrambling to end their holiday and cancel accommodation at great expense because 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 after their citizenship ceremony, which may prevent immediate travel. Those impacted say the publication of the final rules last November did not lead to effective communication to dual nationals about the change.
Rollout background and government rationale
The ETA scheme was launched in October of the previous year but was not strictly enforced at first to give visitors time to adjust. Officials later confirmed the move to mandatory ETAs from 25 February. The government describes the digital permission as a way to modernise, speed up and make the immigration system more secure. The migration minister, Mike Tapp, has urged travellers to be ‘‘travel ready’’ and to ensure they hold the correct permission or documentation to avoid disruption at departure.
From 25 February airlines are required to prevent passengers from boarding if they do not hold an ETA, an eVisa, or other valid travel documentation. Travellers and carriers should note that the scheme and its administration are now in force and that some transitional arrangements previously in place have ended.
