If you travel to the UK on an Australian passport, you have probably seen headlines about the UK rolling out its new electronic travel authorisation, or ETA. For most Australians, the change is annoying but manageable: apply online, pay the fee (~$22), board your flight.
For Australians who also hold British citizenship, it is a different story. From late February 2026, travelling on the “wrong” passport could mean extra checks at best and a denied boarding at worst, with a much bigger bill attached than the ETA most people will be paying.
From 25 February 2026, visitors who need an ETA will be expected to have one linked to the passport they are using. British and Irish citizens are exempt from needing an ETA, but they are still expected to prove their status before travel, usually with a current UK or Irish passport.
What is the impact for dual citizens
If you already hold a valid British or Irish passport then there is no impact (just remember to use it to enter the UK).
If you are a dual citizen and do not have a British passport, you cannot apply for an ETA.
You must instead prove citizenship with a valid British passport, a valid Irish passport, or another passport that contains a certificate of entitlement.
Dual Citizens who do not have a valid British or Irish passport have three options:
- Apply for a British or Irish Passport in addition to your Australian passport.
– The cost of applying for a British passport from Australia is ~$128.
– Applicants are instructed to allow at least 6 weeks for standard processing. - Apply for a Certificate of entitlement to be added to your Australian passport.
The cost of this is a whopping ~$1185 (and it only lasts until your Australian passport expires, you’ll need to apply for a new one if you renew your Australian passport) - Renounce your British Citizenship. This is a formal legal process with major consequences and it comes with a fee of ~$966.
Timelines
UK guidance for dual citizens sets out a grace period, followed by stricter enforcement:
- Travelling on or before 24 February 2026: British dual citizens with a valid passport from an ETA eligible country, such as Australia, should be allowed to board as normal without an ETA
- Travelling on or after 25 February 2026: you may not be able to board without a valid UK passport, Irish passport or a certificate of entitlement in another passport.
What about airport transits?
Transit rules depend on whether you pass UK passport control during your connection.
The Home Office has said transit passengers who go through UK passport control need an ETA, while those transiting without passing UK passport control do not currently need one.
A quick checklist before you book
- If you are travelling on or after 25 February 2026, make sure you have a valid UK passport, Irish passport or a certificate of entitlement in your Australian passport.
- If you are not a UK or Irish citizen, apply for an ETA using the same passport you will travel on. Applying for an ETA is straightforward:
- Cost: ~$32
- Validity: 2 years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
- Use: multiple trips, with visits of up to six months at a time.
- Timing: decisions are usually sent by email within a day, but the UK advises allowing up to 3 working days.
For travel advisors, go for early, repeated communication. Flag the 25 February 2026 deadline at quote stage, confirm each client’s citizenship and which passport they plan to travel on, and build document checks into your pre departure process so nobody arrives at check in unprepared.
