Dual citizens/ETA enforcement from 24 February 2026

[pretzel_logic]

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.

Depends what passport you have. If you can use the eGates (one of the countries I mentioned above) then Gatwick is pretty quick. Manchester also has eGates - the new terminal has around 20 I think - the others have less.

Using the eGates I've never queued at Gatwick, so 30 secs (the time it takes to process) is the usual amount of time.

Obviously if you're travelling with children under 10 or another person who isn't eligible for the eGates, then you'll have to queue, but even then it's not that bad.

 

[Neeves]

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.

We do have eGates in Sydney - they are not a novelty. They do fail, though I'm sure Heathrow is a paragon of success.

You would make a good chippy - you have hit the nail on the head first time.

The big problem is that the long haul flights from Austral/Asia/India and maybe some from the Americas all arrive at the same time and carry more passengers than short haul flights later in the day, between 5 and 6am and facilities soon overload. None of us have the choice of arriving later from the nether reaches of the world as the long haul schedules all arrive at a similar time. When we leave the UK to fly anywhere in Europe - we probably have a choice of flights 4-6 a day and can choose flights that arrive at a more civilised time.. Even better - we can take the train. No-one is at their best at 6am, kids are fractious and adults want to be fractious - but its unseemly. And when there is an issue, power failure - you remember it. You don't remember the good times at immigration - because they don't exist.

Its simply another version of Parkinson's Law - increase the ease of entering a country and more people come and overloaded the system

And when it fails it fails - big time



But this is drifting big time from ETA introduction, which should be clear concise and non emotive

Jonathan

 

[lustyd]

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.

I don't think it's a decision as such, just a part of moving to digital borders, similar to what the EU are doing. The desire to track people in every aspect of their lives is driving a lot of things these days, freedom taking a back seat. I don't see it improving any time soon, looking at the angry mobs and media that drives them.

 

[Graham376]

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.

For around 50 years, my wife had travelled to numerous countries on a UK passport, which shows her place of birth as Portugal. Even when entering Portugal, this was never questioned. She only renewed her Portuguese passport (after a 50+ year lapse) when Brexit arrived as, although a citizen, she was not resident there on her UK one/married name.

 

[Laser310]

I note with regard to one of your other points that enabling US citizens who are not domiciled in the USA to renounce their US citizenship is a growth industry, entirely because the US taxes it's citizens wherever they live and regardless of whether they pay tax elsewhere.

I am a US/British dual national.

Renouncing ones US citizenship does not entirely relieve a US citizen of the obligation to pay US income tax.

The treasury is smarter than that...

You will continue to pay income tax on any any US-based income; this includes many retirement plans, income from real estate etc.

The bigger problem is that you must immediately pay capital gains tax on all assets, no matter where in the world they are, as if you sold them the day you renounced your citizenship. There is an exemption - i think the first ~US $800,000 is exempt.

For many retired people with stock portfolios and real property that they have acquired over a lifetime of investing, and in which they have huge paper gains, the capital gains tax makes it extremely difficult (expensive) to renounce us citizenship.

And, given that most of their income is likely to be US-based, they won't save any taxes anyway.

 

[Laser310]

also - I always enter the US on my valid US passport, and I always enter the UK on my valid UK passport.

The one likely exception was in may, when i cruised from France to the Scilly Isles and back to France, and I am pretty sure that, in spite of trying, I never properly entered the UK.

In the US at least, I have to be careful even when leaving. Once, on a trip to the UK, I presented my UK passport to the airline and, because I had a US address, was immediately asked for my green card. I then presented my US passport.

 

[Neeves]

. The desire to track people in every aspect of their lives is driving a lot of things these days, freedom taking a back seat.

I'm yet to be convinced that tracking me, or everyone, is a bad thing, I'm doing nothing wrong, nothing of which I'm ashamed - and if I get robbed and beaten up some crim might be apprehended more quickly. How is tracking me impacting my freedom.

I spoke to a female taxi driver in China (where every street has banks of cameras), she welcomes the surveillance - she can now work nights with much less fear of assault. The downside is that if you are detecting speeding the fine is deducted from your credit card, immediately.

Jonathan

 

[lustyd]

I'm yet to be convinced that tracking me, or everyone, is a bad thing, I'm doing nothing wrong

Unfortunately that just demonstrates a lack of familiarity with the subject. This isn’t really the place to dive into it either. China is an appalling example to give, their human rights abuses are well documented, many using those cameras! “Doing something wrong” is subjective and could simply be the wrong colour skin.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I'm yet to be convinced that tracking me, or everyone, is a bad thing, I'm doing nothing wrong, nothing of which I'm ashamed - and if I get robbed and beaten up some crim might be apprehended more quickly. How is tracking me impacting my freedom.

I spoke to a female taxi driver in China (where every street has banks of cameras), she welcomes the surveillance - she can now work nights with much less fear of assault. The downside is that if you are detecting speeding the fine is deducted from your credit card, immediately.

Jonathan

Attitudes to privacy are VASTLY different between Asian countries and the West.

 

[Graham376]

Attitudes to privacy are VASTLY different between Asian countries and the West.

Not just between east and west, between citizens and residents of the UK as well. Recent and past moves by UV gov to introduce ID here, met with much opposition but I really don't understand why as they help reduce crime.

In common with other EU residents, I have a biometric ID card and it doesn't bother me in the least having fingerprints and other data on file. I guarantee others here will disagree.

 

[Laser310]

I'm yet to be convinced that tracking me, or everyone, is a bad thing, I'm doing nothing wrong,

the problem is that those who get to decide what's "wrong" change over time

 

[KevinV]

I'm yet to be convinced that tracking me, or everyone, is a bad thing, I'm doing nothing wrong

I have no problem with having to carry ID, no problem with that ID containing biometrics, that ID being required to access government services and it being used to electronically track movements across borders - there are a lot of good, legitimate reasons for those things.
I don't even object to the possibility of being tracked going about my daily business - this has legitimate crime fighting purposes. My concern is that with the availability of huge amounts of computer power this possibility becomes a live reality - tracking innocent civilians is a grossly disproportionate invasion of privacy (in my opinion)

 

[Justino]

Just a quick heads up that the following gov.uk page was updated yesterday to state that dual citizens will require a valid British or Irish passport (or a ridiculously overpriced certificate of entitlement!) when reentering the UK from 24 Feb 2026. Currently an expired passport is accepted I believe (or at least, that's what the page below previously stated):

Electronic travel authorisation (ETA): guide for dual citizens

The change has come about due to ETA enforcement coming into effect on the same date.

UK to enforce new ETA entry rules from February 2026

It seems that letting your British passport lapse is no longer an option for dual citizens who wish to return to or visit the UK.

I wonder if the proposed digital ID cards will be accepted in the future as well?

That’s a big change, definitely going to catch a lot of people out..

 

[pretzel_logic]

We do have eGates in Sydney - they are not a novelty. They do fail, though I'm sure Heathrow is a paragon of success.

You would make a good chippy - you have hit the nail on the head first time.

The big problem is that the long haul flights from Austral/Asia/India and maybe some from the Americas all arrive at the same time and carry more passengers than short haul flights later in the day, between 5 and 6am and facilities soon overload. None of us have the choice of arriving later from the nether reaches of the world as the long haul schedules all arrive at a similar time. When we leave the UK to fly anywhere in Europe - we probably have a choice of flights 4-6 a day and can choose flights that arrive at a more civilised time.. Even better - we can take the train. No-one is at their best at 6am, kids are fractious and adults want to be fractious - but its unseemly. And when there is an issue, power failure - you remember it. You don't remember the good times at immigration - because they don't exist.

Its simply another version of Parkinson's Law - increase the ease of entering a country and more people come and overloaded the system

And when it fails it fails - big time



But this is drifting big time from ETA introduction, which should be clear concise and non emotive

Jonathan

Yes I recall the eGates at Sydney last time I went in 2023. Fairly seamless although there were only a few of them. I imagine there are more now.

Oh I'm aware that the eGates at Heathrow aren't trouble free, but in general they are pretty good. And there are lots of them and are open to vastly more people in the world than any other country (currently).

In a 10 hour period I reckon the maximum eGate queue was around 15 minutes at a couple of points during that time at any of the terminals but most of the time it was just a few minutes. (I worked in immigration - passport control - at Heathrow across all the terminals for a few years between 2022-2025). There are a lot of things UK Immigration (Border Force) get wrong, but eGates are one of the success stories.

But yes, drifting from ETA introduction which, at the moment, is still plagued with some issues that need to be ironed out, such as the ones you mention with expired passports etc. One hopes there will be some clarity prior to February but who knows?

 

[lustyd]

Not just between east and west, between citizens and residents of the UK as well. Recent and past moves by UV gov to introduce ID here, met with much opposition but I really don't understand why as they help reduce crime.

In common with other EU residents, I have a biometric ID card and it doesn't bother me in the least having fingerprints and other data on file. I guarantee others here will disagree.

The people who don’t have issues never see a problem. Similar with stop and search, middle aged white guys have never had an issue…

 

[awol]

May I advocate researching your family tree for Irish forebears. The Irish passport is a wonderful thing - no impediments to UK or EU entry, comes in a tasty red colour and is considerably cheaper than the dingy black UK one. In fact it seems to have all the advantages of the pre-Brexit red UK one.

 

[Laser310]

May I advocate researching your family tree for Irish forebears. The Irish passport is a wonderful thing - no impediments to UK or EU entry, comes in a tasty red colour and is considerably cheaper than the dingy black UK one. In fact it seems to have all the advantages of the pre-Brexit red UK one.

doesn't it need to be a parent or grandparent who was born there and/or was a citizen?

i think i have a great grandparent.... so not good enough

 

[Neeves]

My understanding is that if you do not 'ordinarily' consider yourself a British citizen - which is true in my case and I suspect the majority of British/Australian citizens who choose to travel under an Australian Passport and their UK Passport was never applied for or is long defunct - you will be treated as an Australian - and will need to apply for whatever visa requirement are applicable for Australians (it may change).

I don't vote in the UK have not for at least 4 decades, do not use the NHS, Do pay tax on UK income (which with double taxation means I don't pat tax on the Tax Paid UK income in Australia). I would not be using the benefit of visa free entry (I would pass through immigration as a 'foreigner).

Frankly forcing people to apply for and use a British Passport, if they are citizens, is going to open up a new can of worms. Just think of the people who suddenly would be able to also have their children as British citizens.

Jonathan

 

[Neeves]

May I advocate researching your family tree for Irish forebears. The Irish passport is a wonderful thing - no impediments to UK or EU entry, comes in a tasty red colour and is considerably cheaper than the dingy black UK one. In fact it seems to have all the advantages of the pre-Brexit red UK one.

I did just that and the only person of, possible, Irish descent was from the 1600s - and I don't think she will count, though my middle name is her surname. She ,must have been a forceful character as the eldest son of the eldest son carries her name. What I did find was that a great, great uncle was transported as a convict to Tasmania - with great success, the old white pages in Melbourne was full of his offspring and those, of the same surname, who emigrated voluntarily.

Jonathan

 

[Neeves]

The rules of entry to the UK and on citizenship are in a state of flux.

See post 133 above

My reading of the rules is (and this was largely the reality in earlier posts).

The airline may refuse you or your ability to fly as they are responsible to ensure their passengers have entry to the destination - as if entry is refused the airline pays for your return to your departure point. In many respects the airlines are the arbiter and are required to evaluate the rules and how they apply to the individual. Currently no-one knows what the position of the airlines will be (viz ETA in an Oz passport and use of out of date passports). But if you are patient it will become obvious, better not to be the white rat.

UK citizens, in terms of UK Immigration will accept a UK passport that has expired, within 5 years of expiry. There are cases where dual citizens (Australia/UK) have applied for and been awarded ETA, though theoretically this is incorrect (as UK citizens don't need an ETA). It is not clear if these dual citizens have been accepted by the airlines, without a UK passport and with ETA linked to their Australian passport. A point made earlier - you are committing an offence if you hold 2 passports but don't declare the UK one is ambiguous (but maybe the question is more clear - if I destroy my UK passport, (its now out of date) I no longer own 2 passports.......and can honestly say I only own one passport.....?


My intention, were I to travel to the UK, was to apply for an ETA on my Oz passport (and take my expired UK passport). Now - as the rules are in a state of flux - I'll keep a watching brief on changes - and react as appropriate. At immigration, with an ETA in my Oz passport, I'd take my chance and assess the queues and try to join the one with the shortest wait, either UK citizens or foreigners with ETA (and my UK expired passport in my back pocket. Longer term I'd, if the 5 year out of date passport 'works' I'd run with that, if an ETA in my Oz passport works I'd use that - but I would not renew my out of date UK passport within the 5 year period.

In the interim I'm expecting greater clarity

Oddly, if you were born in Britain of British parents you are automatically a citizen of the UK (and can freely enter...?). So if you carry your own birth certificate and that of your parents - this in theory gives you entry to the UK. I'm not sure that airlines have figured this one yet.


Interestingly the rules of being awarded citizenship in the UK changed from 5 years to 10 years in November. This did not cut the mustard and if you were high a earner the waiting period could be as short as 3 years - and is now flexible (and varies with income)

Interesting times.

Jonathan