If you are a British or Irish citizen and you also hold citizenship of another country, you may be used to being able to travel to the UK using the passport or ID card of that country.
However, due to the recent introduction of the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, you’ll need to ensure you travel on a UK or Irish document from 2026.
An ETA is digital permission to travel to the UK for short stays of up to six months. It applies where a traveller’s nationality is included on the ETA national list and they do not already have any existing UK immigration or nationality status. This list includes EEA citizens, Americans and other non-visa nationalities.
According to Pip Hague (Senior Knowledge Lawyer at Lewis Silkin), the ETA scheme has been introduced with an implementation period, during which the scheme is not being fully enforced.
The Home Office recently advised the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association that the implementation period is due to end in 2026, she said.
Once the implementation period ends, if you hold British or Irish citizenship plus any other citizenship, you will only be able to travel to the UK on the following documents:
- A valid British passport;
- A valid Irish passport; or
- A valid passport for another country you are a citizen of, containing a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode in the UK.
“To minimise the possibility of travel disruption, we would suggest making an application for one of the above documents during 2025. Doing so will avoid the anticipated surge in applications once the implementation ends, as well as the annual Spring peak in passport applications ahead of summer travel,” she said.
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