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Electronic Travel Authorisations

Asked by Alex SobelLabour (Co-op)Home OfficeTabled Answered 16 January 2025UIN 22665

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department has issued on whether transport carriers can accept (a) an expired British passport and (b) other evidence of British citizenship as proof of exemption from the electronic travel authorisation requirement.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

We recommend that all dual nationals travel on a valid British or Irish citizen passport (or Irish passport card) or with a passport containing a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode to minimise any potential delay during their journey; or at the border.

Carriers bringing passengers to the UK routinely carry out checks to ensure passengers hold genuine, valid documents, so, it is likely that passengers seeking to rely on an expired passport to establish a permission to travel may be delayed or even denied travel.

British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA to enter the UK and should not apply for one.

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