ETA for the UK and dual citizenship

[helluvatime]

If I have understood correctly, you need to travel on your British passport to avoid having to get an ETA OR get a certificate of entitlement (which costs £550!!!) This seems very unfair to me and is particularly so for those of us who have dual nationality kids who want to travel home to see grandparents.

My kids actually do have UK passports now but did not get them for a long time as we are a relatively low income household and getting everyone two passports when not really needed was too much. I think a lot of people are going to be caught out this way! Oh for the pre-Brexit days when you could travel on a £15 ID card....

Anyway, is this right? Has anyone been turned back because they are a British citizen but without a passport?

Another one who thinks that you can’t have an opinion on a chat board. Honestly, this has nothing to do with "securing the borders". You seem to have fallen for the propaganda.

Thanks. I thought it was interesting too! Shame that the thread got hijacked by people telling me to CHECK MY PRIVILEGE!😂

So you’re now an expert in border security as well!

With that level of strategic insight, I’m surprised you’re in a position that you are moaning about the apparent financial burden of kids passports.

Well that is my point - you are not meant to do that. British citizens cannot legally get an ETA. They can (but probably won’t at the moment) block your entry for doing that.

Please explain why not allowing me to get an ETA like my husband has, means our borders are now safer....

Same rules as the USA, if you want the privilege of not needing the visa/visa waiver you need a passport. Being born in the U.K. isn’t proof of nationality, the passport is. Yes I know Brexit is crap, they have just announced it will be €20 for an eta for the eu! But it is what it is so your kids need passports

The rule is that if you have dual nationality you should always travel into the UK on your British passport. It’s the only way to prove you are a British citizen. No way round it I’m afraid.

My DSIS has dual UK and Australian citizenship and travelled into the UK on her Australian passport with no visa and no return ticket. She was questioned for hours by immigration and was very nearly deported.

and yes to renewing passports within the U.K., I did this my dc when we lived overseas, sent them off (before online renewal) via post office the day after we arrived on their (then) 2 week turnaround service, my mum would have already prepared the form and got a counter signature lined up ready.

So if you’re a dual citizen, how does it work? Can I enter the EU on my EU passport and then on my return enter the UK with my UK passport? What details do I give the online booking thing? Airlines ask for passport numbers these days.

No I live in England, travel within and outside Europe and don’t have a British passport despite being a British citizen, it’s never been an issue. I’ve never got a certificate of entitlement nor have I ever been required to have one.

You might find it is an issue now! The rules have changed hence my post.

Changed from when?
I flew into England one week ago. Is it a new policy?

It is not a question of not needing the visa waiver - you are not allowed the visa waiver if you are a UK citizen.

Yes. Apparently they are going to be a bit more lenient while people are getting used to the system but that won’t last....

https://www.gov.uk/eta

I can’t see how this would work. I’ve never had a British passport, half of NI don’t have British passports. So they would have to have a British passport in order to leave the country and return again?
I’m pretty sure forcing a British passport is a conflict of the GFA.

Sorry - should have said! If you have an Irish passport you are exempt.

You don’t need one if you have an Irish passport due to the CTA.

Canada has a similar program for dual Canadian/US citizens, same for Australia and New Zealand.

Oh okay!
I was thinking FS am I going to have to shell out on new passports for all of us!

Surely if you have dual nationality and the passport you hold is for the other country, you get an ETA for that passport? The ETA costs £16 so hardly a prohibitive amount.

If you hold a British passport you travel into the UK on that passport and don’t need an ETA.

This would be so easy to fix.
It needs a box to tick on the ETA application form.
“Are you an British citizen living overseas?” Then, Add details.
For what its worth I consider this being penalized especially if you have several children.

Again - no. You cannot get an ETA if you are a British citizen regardless of what passport you hold.

Exactly this!

@Hodgemollar you do not need a passport to travel within the common travel zone which includes the U.K. and Republic of Ireland.

@DeafLeppard you use one password for outbound then change details to the other for inbound, one of mine is dual national USA (due to birth place, $2500 to rescind!)

@helluvatime. We have exactly the same situation with dc and USA, had to pay £100 for a passport to enter the USA. Thankfully she’s now grown up but for work needs to have both passports up to date