The article concerned the UK rolling out its new electronic travel authorisation (ETA). For most Australians, they can apply online, pay the fee ($22) and board their flight.
For Australians who also hold British citizenship, it is a different story. From late February, travelling on the “wrong” passport could mean extra checks at best and a denied boarding at worst, with a bigger bill attached than the ETA – a Certificate of Entitlement costing a massive $1,185.
Here’s what you had to say about the changes:
Anne: “It’s a nightmare. I’ve booked to go back in May and already bought ETA but now that’s not good enough. I’m a naturalised Aussie now but apparently that doesn’t count. I’ve applied for a new UK passport and they took the $260 but now I don’t seem to find anyone good enough to validate my photos. It’s ridiculous.”
Roy: “It now costs more to ditch the UK passport than it does to renew it.”
Susan: “Not making sense. I travel only on an Australian passport. I came to Australia when I was three. Will this impact my travel to the UK?”
Carol: “Same here in NZ. Although born in the UK, have been 51 years in NZ. Let our UK passports run out as Covid struck in NZ and frankly like you not happy but UK will miss out on our tourist dollars and travel agents their fees!”
Caroline: “So the easiest way to look at it is where is your place of birth in your passport? If it shows the UK you need to get a British passport. If it says anywhere else then you can get an ETA visa.”
Mike: “In addition to your comment, my passport says born in Cape Town, South Africa, but was assigned British citizenship at birth. I too now need to keep my UK passport up to date if I wish to go to England to visit family, as I hold UK and Australian citizenship.”
Sue: “So what about children/grandchildren of a dual citizen who have an Australian passport but do not have a British passport?”
Crimson: “Only if they have claimed their British citizenship. You have to apply to be considered citizen by descent.”
Anne: “Husband and myself born in UK. Daughter born 1991 in Oz and by descent now needs a UK passport. Passes one generation so grandchildren do not need one. Children born from 1983 to 2006 in Oz automatically are dual citizens. No need to apply as one.”
Lynne: “This is where it is ridiculous. My parents emigrated to Aus in 1967 when I was 13. My daughter born in 1985 by my, a British citizen, and her father, an Australian citizen, would need to have a British passport to enter the UK. They really gave this one some thought…not.”
Steve: “I was born in the UK but took out Australian citizenship in 1988. I now live in Spain and was told by the Australian embassy here that to travel back into Australia I had to enter using my Australian passport but I could leave using my UK passport. Just do as you’re asked, far easier.”
Rob: “A British citizen, with unquestioned right of abode, can be refused entry to the UK because they used their ‘overseas’ passport. Meanwhile, someone with no legal right of entry can arrive unlawfully, trigger a non-removal process, and remain for months or years at public expense. Same border. Totally different logic.”
