HMG would prefer you not to but there’s no legal nor practical impediment to doing so.

While I can understand not wanting to shell out money for something you will use only once or twice in ten years, what I don't understand why someone would not want to hold a valid passport from their country. Even if that means you have two valid passports, if one of the countries that you hold a passport in says that their passport must be shown upon entry, then you make sure you have that passport when traveling. It's not like you are shelling out for a new passport each time you travel or even every year. We will spent a hundred or more for a couple to go to dinner but won't spend a hundred to renew a passport which is good for ten years. Huh?

$100 is more than many OAPs have to spend on groceries for a week. To renew a UK passport costs 115 quid ($215 CAD at todays exchange rate) plus a courier charge.

Frankly, if the cost of $100 is too much for an OAP, then they won't be traveling outside of Canada will they. As for the renewal of a UK passport which is good for 10 years, then if you are in a profession that warrants overseas travel to the UK, if you only have a Canadian passport, then the cost of $21.50 Cdn or 11.50 pounds sterling per anum to get your UK passport is less than having dinner out one night during the year. BTW why does it have to be couriered? Now that is a waste of money IMHO. If you are too lazy to renew it in a timely manner, then that is their problem.

If you are citizens in both countries then you should be proud enough of your citizenship to hold a valid passport if you are a traveler.

I am not a lazy person and i am proud to be a Canadian and Uk citizen. I did not renew my Uk passport because until recently i could enter and leave the Uk on my Canadian passport without any problem and IMHO it was a waste of money to have two valid passports when my Canadian passport served my needs.

I have to say I agree with Rete; there is an element of pride in your country, of being a citizen of your country, and with me holding that passport reflects my pride in it.

Perhaps a family member might be happy to pay for a grandparent to visit the UK to see grandchildren - but the grandparent can't travel because they can't afford the passport. I do agree that in an ideal world most people would want to hold a UK passport.

It's far more than $100, at today's exchange rate it's $216.50 for the passport, plus the courier fee of $52.90 - a total of $ 269.40, as opposed to $36.90 for an ETA under previous rules.

As to having it couriered (UK Gov returning the passport), it's a requirement when applying from overseas, according to the website.

https://www.passport.service.gov.uk/filter/how-to-apply

1. Quote:

   Pay for your passport

   Quote:

   A standard passport is £116.50 for an adult, and £75.50 for a child. Plus a £28.64 courier fee.

An impoverished traveler could pay for the passport by taking the seat offered instead of selecting one and by bringing a sandwich.

I'm genuinely astounded by the ongoing noise around this ETA.

Typical Brits abroad nonsense.

It's very much akin to the bleating about unindexed pensions. Driven by a desire to take from the UK, in one case identity, in the other money, while contributing nothing. If we were brown the Daily Mail would be all over us.

I recently travelled to the UK on a Canadian passport with an ETA in it, that I obtained in 2025. I can't recall whether I knowingly didnt answer the "Do you have another nationality" question or not, but I did obtain an ETA.
My British passport has expired. I did bring it with me just in case - although I suspect without the ETA, Air Canada would have denied boarding. I checked in on my Canadian PP, took a connecting flight to Montreal and passed through the e-gates at LHR without a problem.
I will renew my British PP in due course.

Did you travel after the new rules took effect? And you did not need a UK passport? I was also planning a trip using my CDN passport with the valid ETA like I did last year. Does that mean they are not enforcing the new rules. At age 80, I would like to make one more trip to see my sister, I would even be willing to get a uk passport bu I don’t know anyone in the UK who could be a countersignatory. My UK passport expired in 1974, so I don’t see any options for me to travel unfortunately. If my UK passport had expired after 1989, I could have just renewed it, an easier process, but now have to apply as if it were a first one. Very disappointing

They are enforcing the new rules, don't risk it - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c747vj1z0xwo

You don't need a countersignature from the UK, it can be somebody in Canada.

Good luck.

Thank you!

If you already have a valid ETA then you can simply travel on that. Neither the airline nor UK Border Force will care.