The Home Office has updated its guidance on how the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) framework applies to dual British citizens. The clarification confirms that, in defined transitional circumstances, an expired British passport may be accepted for travel to the UK.
British nationality law remains unchanged. British citizens continue to be exempt from ETA requirements and retain an unrestricted right of entry. The update instead addresses how that status is evidenced prior to boarding, as carrier compliance systems become fully operational.
Temporary Acceptance of Expired British Passports for Dual Citizens
Under the revised guidance, some dual British nationals may travel to the UK using an expired British passport issued in 1989 or later. The concession applies only where the individual also holds a valid passport from an ETA-eligible country and has secured an approved ETA linked to that foreign passport.
The measure recognises that some dual nationals remain British in law but do not currently hold a valid British passport. It does not displace the general position that British citizens are expected to travel on a current British passport where they rely on British citizenship.
The expired passport must fall within the specified issuance period. The foreign passport needs to be valid, and the ETA approved before travel. If those elements are absent, carriers may refuse boarding.
Why Temporary Flexibility Is Being Offered
The ETA system operates through pre-departure checks carried out by carriers. Airline systems assess permission to travel by reference to the passport presented at check-in. Where a dual national presents only a non-UK passport, the system treats the individual solely as a national of that state.
If that nationality falls within ETA scope, the carrier is required to confirm that an ETA or visa is in place. Without a mechanism to identify British citizenship through the passport data submitted, the passenger risks delay or refusal of boarding.
The updated guidance addresses that verification gap. It clarifies how carriers should treat dual nationals in narrowly defined cases during the transition to full ETA enforcement.
Continuing Expectation to Travel on a Valid British Passport
The Home Office position remains that dual British citizens are expected to travel to the UK using a valid British passport when relying on British citizenship. The expired passport concession operates as a transitional accommodation rather than a long-term alternative.
Those who routinely travel on another nationality’s passport should review passport validity well in advance of future journeys. For families with dual-national children, advance planning is particularly important. Where no valid British passport is held, reliance on the concession requires careful confirmation that all criteria are met.
Irish citizens remain outside the ETA regime. However, dual British-Irish nationals who choose to travel on a third-country passport may encounter the same carrier verification constraints.
The guidance introduces limited flexibility but the default position remains the same: travel on a current British passport where British citizenship is being relied upon.
