UK rolls out travel permits for visitors, leaving dual nationals in limbo

MANCHESTER, England (CN) — Visitors from 85 countries including the United States, Canada and France must now obtain a digital travel permit before entering the United Kingdom, as the government’s electronic travel authorization system became mandatory Wednesday.

The permit, known as an electronic travel authorization, is now legally required for most travelers who previously entered Britain without a visa.

Airlines and other carriers can refuse boarding to passengers who do not have one.

The British government says the system will modernize border controls and allow authorities to screen travelers before they arrive. But the rollout has also created problems for some dual nationals who suddenly must prove British citizenship.

Enforcement begins at check-in

Airlines, rail operators and ferry companies now run automated checks with the Home Office, the U.K.’s interior ministry, to confirm passengers have permission to travel. Without approval, passengers may not be allowed to board.

Although the ETA, which costs approximately $21, grants permission to travel, it does not guarantee entry. Travelers must still pass passport control and can be turned away at the border.

Electronic travel permits are already used by several countries. 

A comparable U.S. system costs $40, Canada charges 7 Canadian dollars ($5) and the EU plans to introduce its ETIAS program, expected to cost 20 euros ($23).

Minister for Migration and Citizenship Mike Tapp said the program strengthens border security while simplifying travel.

“The ETA scheme is a vital part of our work to strengthen the U.K.’s border security, helping to deliver a more efficient and modern service that works for both visitors and the British public,” Tapp said. “I’d urge anyone wanting to travel to the U.K. to ensure they are travel ready and have the right permission, to make their journey much smoother.”

Dual citizens face unexpected hurdles

While foreign visitors can obtain an ETA online, dual British nationals cannot.

Under the rules taking effect Wednesday, people who hold British citizenship alongside another nationality must travel using a valid British passport or obtain a digital certificate of entitlement attached to their foreign passport.

A passport costs about $135 for adults, while a certificate of entitlement costs just under $800 and can take weeks to process.

Without one of these, they risk being denied boarding.

The requirement has prompted complaints from Britons living abroad, including parents whose children were born overseas and never applied for British passports.

Whitney, a dual British-American citizen, shared her concerns online ahead of a planned birthday trip.

“I’ve always used my U.S. passport when traveling back home to visit family and friends, and it has never been an issue.”

She said she learned about the requirement only weeks before traveling and rushed to renew her British passport. “I am already out over $500 in passport fees, digital photos, international registered mail and the emergency travel document application — and I am still not guaranteed entry into the country where I was born and raised.”

Whitney added: “It feels completely unreasonable that dual British citizens are facing these barriers, while travelers from other countries can simply pay 16 pounds ($21) for an ETA. We are being treated unfairly and effectively punished for our dual nationality.”

Another dual national, Stephi, said the cost of compliance has prevented her from visiting her grandmother, saying she “can't even visit my 98-year-old nan in the U.K. because I moved to France when I was 3 years old and cannot afford the certificate of entitlement.”

She added: “I'm so upset and feel betrayed that we are treated as if we were illegal immigrants when all I wanted was a short 2-week visit while I can.”

The ETA system first launched in October 2023, but officials said it was not strictly enforced to give travelers time to adjust. 

The government confirmed in November the requirement would become mandatory from Wednesday.

People who already require visas to visit Britain must still apply for visas. British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA.

Courthouse News reporter James Francis Whitehead is based in England.

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