Do British-Italian dual nationals need an ETA to travel to the UK?

Posted by author March 4, 2025 Travel

The UK’s ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) is a visa waiver that visa-free travellers need to apply for online in advance of their trip.

It costs £10 and lasts two years, allowing for multiple trips to the country.

Much like the EU’s upcoming ETIAS requirement and the existing American ESTA visa waiver, it is required for all types of travel, including tourism, short stays and family holidays.

The ETA is already compulsory for non-EU citizens, but will be required for anyone travelling on an EU or EEA passport from April 2nd.

The website for applications from EU/EEA nationals is set to go live on Wednesday, March 5th.

From April 2nd, only UK visa holders, people with residency status in the UK (for instance, EU nationals with Settled or Pre-Settled Status) and people with a British or Irish passport will be exempt from ETA requirements.

All other EU or EEA citizens will need to get the visa waiver.

So what’s the deal for people who have a British or Irish passport in addition to the passport of an EU country such as Italy?

Firstly, there is no difference between those who were born British or Irish and later acquired Italian nationality and those who are originally Italian and later got a UK/Irish passport – the system simply sees the passports.

Secondly, it’s all about the passports that you actually have.

This is particularly important for children born in Italy with a British parent; those kids are entitled to British citizenship but their parent needs to apply for a UK passport for them. The process is not automatic and if you turn up at the border without a British passport, you will not be treated as British.

The key point for dual nationals is that you are treated according to the passport you are travelling on.

The passports of dual nationals are not ‘linked’, so if you present an Italian passport at the border, the system has no way of knowing that you are also a UK or Irish national and will treat you like any other Italian citizen – meaning you will need an ETA from April 2nd 2025.

You will only be exempted from the ETA requirement if you have your UK or Irish passport with you and can show it at the border.

If you show up at the airport/station/port with only an Italian passport and no ETA, you may be denied boarding – regardless of the fact that you are also British or Irish.

It’s important to note that the spouses or children of British nationals are not exempt from ETA, unless they also happen to be dual nationals.