Eta Travel Permit becomes mandatory from 25 February as dual nationals face new boarding checks
From 25 February the UK has made an eta travel permit mandatory for most visitors who previously travelled visa-free, a digital permission intended to speed up and secure the border. The immediate enforcement has prompted concerns in Parliament and among travellers after airlines began stopping passengers without the required permissions from boarding.
Mike Tapp and Home Office defence of the change
Minister for Migration and Citizenship Mike Tapp defended the move in Parliament, saying the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme is "a vital part" of strengthening the UK’s border security and delivering a more efficient, modern service for visitors and the British public. He rejected calls for a grace period and described suggestions that the department had failed to publicise the change as "absurd, " arguing the government had spent years planning and had publicised the rules.
Eta Travel Permit: who needs it, cost and validity
The eta travel permit is required for visitors from 85 nationalities, including citizens of the United States, Canada, France and Australia. Non-visa nationals who try to enter the UK without an Electronic Travel Authorisation will be barred from entry and airlines are instructed to prevent passengers from boarding if they do not hold an ETA, an eVisa or other valid documentation. An ETA costs £16, allows multiple journeys, and lasts for two years or until the holder’s passport expires, whichever is sooner; once approved it permits a stay in the UK of up to six months. The government has indicated a planned fee increase to £20 in future.
Dual nationals, passports and the £589 Certificate of Entitlement
The new boarding checks have particular consequences for British dual nationals. To prove the right of abode before boarding a plane, ferry or train to the UK, British dual nationals must present a valid or expired British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement, which costs £589. British and Irish citizens are exempt from needing an ETA, but carriers may require presentation of the passport or certificate; at their discretion some carriers may accept expired British passports as alternative documentation.
Parliamentary concerns and individual cases raised by MPs
MPs pressed the Home Office over examples of travellers caught out by the immediate enforcement. Labour backbencher Kerry McCarthy said two constituents feared being stranded on their honeymoon because of the new requirements. The former cabinet minister David Davis said three constituents only learned of the change through media coverage in and the. Conservative MP Alicia Kearns acknowledged the policy was justified but urged improvement of communications.
Parliamentarians and the press have received numerous letters from anxious dual nationals abroad. One British Australian man told officials he had been prevented from attending his father’s funeral because it would take about six weeks to renew his passport from overseas. The Home Office said it could not comment on individual cases.
Operational details: transit, visas and emergency options
The ETA covers short visits for tourism, business or short-term study and also applies to those crossing the border and travelling through the UK as part of a journey. By contrast, travellers who pass through UK airports without going through border security do not need an ETA. People who normally require a visa to enter the UK must continue to obtain the appropriate visa; they do not need an ETA in addition to a visa. Longer stays for work or extended study therefore remain subject to standard visa rules.
Tapp said consular services were available overseas to assist stranded Britons and that dual nationals could obtain a passport within four weeks and in some cases within nine days. He said emergency travel documents exist for urgent travel and urged travellers to check eligibility online. He will host a drop-in session with MPs next Monday to discuss individual cases.
What makes this notable is the tight coupling of a digital permission regime and carrier enforcement: because airlines are required to bar passengers without an ETA, the policy's effectiveness in tightening borders directly produces immediate travel disruptions for those who lack the specific documentation. The government has pointed to international parallels, noting the ETA fee is competitive with other systems such as the US ESTA and the EU’s ETIAS, which is expected to cost €20 when implemented while the US ESTA costs $40.
The scheme was launched in October 2023 and was initially not strictly enforced to give visitors time to adjust; in November the government confirmed the ETA would be mandatory from 25 February. Officials say the change will streamline and speed up immigration checks and make them more secure, but MPs and affected travellers continue to press for clearer communications and practical help for those caught by the rapid shift to enforced digital travel permissions.
