lustyd
Well-Known Member
Edit: never mind
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Dual citizens/ETA enforcement from 24 February 2026
- Thread starter syvictoria
- Start date
oldmanofthehills
Well-Known Member
A dual passport holder may have their passport expired for the contry they are entering. If you have a passport expired or otherwise for a country then it is not permissible to have a visa to that country as an addendum to the "foreign' passport. So unless you can keep your expired passport secret (and they ask about other passports so a lie is visa fraud), then you must renew the expired one
Neeves
Well-Known Member
MUST?
quote
'then you must renew the expired one'
unquote
I do not believe it is compulsory to have a passport, nor compulsory to renew a passport that might become or is expired. UK authorities will know it is expired - it is of no concern to anyone else as it has date expired and basically is invalid and not usable.. The UK passport, expired, will sit and collect dust.
I have the same rights, roughly, using my Australian passport as I had with my UK passport - why would I need, MUST, renew the UK passport. Its odd Australia is the Lucky Country and though the passports rights are similar - no-one calls the UK - the Lucky Country
quote
keep your expired passport secret (and they ask about other passports
unquote
I've never been asked by any immigration authority if I claim 2 citizenships, nor whether I own 2 passports (obviously Australian authorities know I have 2 passports, one expired - as I needed a passport (UK) to enter Australia originally. But maybe I look honest and harmless.
Australia is a nation built on immigration, millions will have dual citizenship and many will have expired passports. I believe the only restriction in Australia is that if you want to stand as a political candidate - you can only do so based on being a citizen of Australia - and no other. I have no political aspirations.
Jonathan
EugeneR
Well-Known Member
Legally, you cannot enter the UK on your AU passport; you must enter as a British citizen. If you have no plans to visit the UK, then no impact if you do not renew.
In practice, entering some countries for which you have an expired passport, using another passport, you may be lucky. They will check your place of birth and, if in that country, should then ask about your other passport. One tends to be more lucky if your place of birth is outside the country you are entering, though. Some countries will give you one warning, before turning you back.
lustyd
Well-Known Member
Even if they don’t turn you away, you’d then be entering under ‘visa free’ travel. Oldman’s point was you can’t extend that under a foreign passport since citizens are not eligible for extended visas and cannot apply for them.
That’s why he said must, because he was addressing that scenario.
That’s why he said must, because he was addressing that scenario.
Jmacd
New Member
I'm not an expert. Rules change, read them.
Just to correct some miss info. Based on my personal experience as of June 2025.
Arriving direct from Canada, (presumably Aus ect) as a Canadian. Prior to june no problem with, Cdn Passport and a booked flight home. "Enjoy your Holiday".
This will change in 2026. The electronic passport pre check in will be required. It's good for 2 years.
To and from NI & Ireland nobody checked or cared.
To France. We discovered.
The rules were already in place, for a Cdn passport arriving from Europe by ferry.
Both Ferry and Bus Co checked PP prior to boarding.
The Mrs sorted. We will require arriving if from Canada next year, 2026 anyway.
Me, I am a British Citizen. The websites gave conflicting answers.
The actual reg, UK citizen not required. Yes you can arrive on Canadian passport and do not require the electronic pre approval check.
The application site required. Automatically directs you to application.
Coming through PP control. The ET arrival never mentioned.
We applied for my wife 24hr before crossing the Channel. I had conf No. I didn't apply at all.
I presume, the computer approved her.
The Lady who checked our PP. Was nice and polite. A lot more questions than arriving at Heathrow. Looked at my Cdn passport. Asked me how long I had lived in Paisley? Before I moved to Canada.
No issues. My Cdn passport, DOB and POB proof, when and where, I was born in UK.
There are other reasons why I decided to apply for a New UK Passport.
How will the Airlines deal with these requirements in 2026?
Just to correct some miss info. Based on my personal experience as of June 2025.
Arriving direct from Canada, (presumably Aus ect) as a Canadian. Prior to june no problem with, Cdn Passport and a booked flight home. "Enjoy your Holiday".
This will change in 2026. The electronic passport pre check in will be required. It's good for 2 years.
To and from NI & Ireland nobody checked or cared.
To France. We discovered.
The rules were already in place, for a Cdn passport arriving from Europe by ferry.
Both Ferry and Bus Co checked PP prior to boarding.
The Mrs sorted. We will require arriving if from Canada next year, 2026 anyway.
Me, I am a British Citizen. The websites gave conflicting answers.
The actual reg, UK citizen not required. Yes you can arrive on Canadian passport and do not require the electronic pre approval check.
The application site required. Automatically directs you to application.
Coming through PP control. The ET arrival never mentioned.
We applied for my wife 24hr before crossing the Channel. I had conf No. I didn't apply at all.
I presume, the computer approved her.
The Lady who checked our PP. Was nice and polite. A lot more questions than arriving at Heathrow. Looked at my Cdn passport. Asked me how long I had lived in Paisley? Before I moved to Canada.
No issues. My Cdn passport, DOB and POB proof, when and where, I was born in UK.
There are other reasons why I decided to apply for a New UK Passport.
How will the Airlines deal with these requirements in 2026?
lustyd
Well-Known Member
Presumably the same as a yacht skipper must. If a person is authorised then take them, otherwise boot them off the boat. Either way the electronic system makes the determination for you based on available information, although it’s up to the skipper to ensure docs are kosher.
Jmacd
New Member
I suspect so.
I was wondering why the passport office app and website were inconsistent with the actual published regulation? Lol.
Perhaps it's been fixed.
Airlines are very well covered by contract law.
Confucius Say. Jobs worth Yacht Skipper, best beware of common law.
I will just go get my popcorn leave that one for fun and giggles. Tee he He.
pretzel_logic
Active Member
It's to do with this new ETA system. A UK citizen cannot apply for an ETA, no matter how many passports they have. Therefore they need to use their UK passport to get on the plane as their foreign - AUS in your case, passport needs an ETA which they can't apply for as a UK citizen. Effectively it's now forcing people with dual citizenship to travel to the UK on their UK passport, when previously it didn't matter
(Technically they need the UK passport to enter the UK, however once you are on UK soil as a UK citizen then you cannot be detained and you have an absolute right to stay even if your passport is expired, but as stated it's unlikely you'll have got on the plane in this situation so it's a moot point).
Hope that makes sense. Obviously if you have no desire to enter the UK then you don't need to renew.
Immigration authorities don't need to know if you are a dual citizen, as long as you have a passport for entry from somewhere that is allowed. In the UK if you enter on a UK passport then generally no questions are asked since you can't be stopped once UK nationality has been ascertained, but if travelling on a foreign passport then entry needs to be granted by immigration (either eGate or an officer) hence questions are often asked since they can be refused entry.
Neeves
Well-Known Member
There are thousands of Australian citizens who, by birth to British parents and being born in UK are also British citizens. They arrived as minors on their parent's passports. Ordinarily they do not consider themselves as British, they have never held a British passport but under their location of birth and citizenship of their parents they are dual nationals.
It clearly states in their valid Australian passports that they were born in the UK.
My understanding as they are not ordinarily British Citizens and they would apply for an ETA on their Australian passports and there is no compulsion for therm to apply for a British Passport. They are simply entering the UK as tourists, not for work, nor access to UK medical facilities etc etc. Similarly with an expired British Passport and are not ordinarily British citizens may also apply for an ETA on their Australian Passports.
Quote me the requirement that they MUST have a valid British Passport and that they cannot apply for an ETA under their Australian passport and citizenship.
I think if you make a search you will find that dual Australian Citizen and British Citizens but who ordinarily do not consider themselves 'British' may apply for an ETA, as TOURISTS, on their valid Australian Passports (which clearly states they were born in the UK). It is not demanded they apply for a British Passport.
Jonathan
It clearly states in their valid Australian passports that they were born in the UK.
My understanding as they are not ordinarily British Citizens and they would apply for an ETA on their Australian passports and there is no compulsion for therm to apply for a British Passport. They are simply entering the UK as tourists, not for work, nor access to UK medical facilities etc etc. Similarly with an expired British Passport and are not ordinarily British citizens may also apply for an ETA on their Australian Passports.
Quote me the requirement that they MUST have a valid British Passport and that they cannot apply for an ETA under their Australian passport and citizenship.
I think if you make a search you will find that dual Australian Citizen and British Citizens but who ordinarily do not consider themselves 'British' may apply for an ETA, as TOURISTS, on their valid Australian Passports (which clearly states they were born in the UK). It is not demanded they apply for a British Passport.
Jonathan
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noelex
Well-Known Member
Long distance cruisers sensibly accrue multiple passports if they are eligible.
This has some significant advantages.
This has some significant advantages.
Fr J Hackett
Well-Known Member
I chose to renew my UK passport mainly at my wife's insistence as we have a few friends left in the UK who we enjoy visiting and their hospitality. It will be valid for about 9 years which should see my travelling days over and truth be told if it wasn't for those very old friends that have stuck with me through thick and thin I have no wish to return. It's become despite being a beautiful country with many memories a shadow of its former self and a hostile place.
pretzel_logic
Active Member
Apologies, we are talking at cross purposes here. My point was that those with two passports are now forced to enter the UK using their UK passport as they are ineligible to apply for an ETA.
Neeves
Well-Known Member
My wife is a citizen of Hong Kong, as I was until 1997 - when my rights were removed, and a citizen of Australia. We would use my UK Passport and choose the UK Passport queue - there were simple queries and a cursory look at the Australian passport - an advantage, bestowed on spouses. of UK citizenship.
Seems eminently sensible, without the need for compulsion, UK passport holders simply walk through everyone else need join an interminable queue. Sometimes you get a choice of queue - but it is inevitable you will join the slowest. This might change with electronic or digital surveyance - machines are fallible and when it all goes belly up there are never enough humans to fill the gap.
Jonathan
Neeves
Well-Known Member
I'm choosing not to renew my passport, similar reasons - the observation there is little need for a UK passport as they offer similar benefits and the application for an ETA is simpler than renewing the passport. (or applying for a new passport). The benefits of health care is independently covered under RHCA, reciprocal health benefits for Brits/Aussies visitors each others' country - and this seems independent of any ETA implications. Australia has this reciprocal arrangement with an eclectic mix of 11 other countries, Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden, I believe that UK citizens enjoy exactly the same benefit with the same list of countries but including Australia. If I wanted to go and live in the UK, I jest, my Australian pension could be paid into my UK bank account as my UK Government pension is currently paid into an Australian bank account
If you need health support choose your cruising ground and anchorages with care. Note all the Americas are missing.
This thread made me check and I was unaware that after 10 years your expired, UK, passport is just waste paper and cannot so easily be renewed.
Now tell me the benefits of a UK passport over an Australian passport
Jonathan
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Fr J Hackett
Well-Known Member
There really isn't one other than allowing easier access into the UK for duel nationality holders.
Fr J Hackett
Well-Known Member
I don't understand the logic of why the UK has done that, probably the result of some flag waving brexiteer either in the civil service or government.
pretzel_logic
Active Member
I'm guessing you haven't been to the UK in a while - there are no UK Passport queues at airports. There is a lot of automation and eGates are the way forward now and have been for a few years. They are currently allowed for the UK, the EU and EEA, the USA, Aus and NZ, Singapore, Japan and S Korea. So with an Aus passport you'd just use them and the queues - by and large - are non-existent - other than sometimes a few minutes if a few US flights have all come in at the same time.
I travel a lot by air and the UK is by far the easiest immigration process to go through - we have far more eGates than pretty much every other country though that is changing as other countries are catching up fast.
pretzel_logic
Active Member
None as far as I can see, unless you want to live here as well as Australia in which case having two passports can be advantageous.
Fr J Hackett
Well-Known Member
Not the case when I flew into,Manchester few months ago, I will be flying into Gatwick in February, I don't expect a speedy processing.