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Electronic Travel Authorisations

Asked by Alex SobelLabour (Co-op)Home OfficeTabled Answered 16 January 2025UIN 22666

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether dual citizens with British or Irish nationality are required to apply for electronic travel authorisation to travel to the UK in instances where their British or Irish passport has expired.

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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