Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?
 

So I am a Dual Citizen and till now the rule was use American Passport while entering and exiting the USA! Or atleast that’s what I had thought

I have a flight to the UK next month since ETA went into effect and need to enter my passport details onto the BA website . Which passport do I use ? Can I use my British Passport to avoid applying for ETA? Or use my American passport to exit and show both passports at Check in counter ?

Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?
 

You can't apply for an ETA if you have British nationality. The online form does not allow you to select British as a second nationality. Carry both, I have my US passport on my airline profile and show them both passports to prove right of entry into the UK.

Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?
 

I have a US and UK passport. I got an ETA on my US passport (for reasons that don’t matter here). When applying I just applied as if I was a US citizen only. The ETA was approved and I just used it this week to enter the UK on my US passport with no issues. I did have my UK passport as backup, but did not need it. As per Lansbury’s experience I know others who just put their US passport details into the airline system, and carried their UK passport to use when entering the UK and to show the check in agent that they do not need an ETA.

Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?
 

Thank you , that makes sense to me . Also i will be traveling with a newborn who will only be having an American Passport. Do you know if I need to apply ETA for her? Shell be 2 months at time of travel

Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?
 

Great thank you

Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?
 

She will need an ETA for her US passport.

Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?
 

What you did is not the correct way to handle this. British (and Irish) citizens are not eligible for ETA.

Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK: When you do not need an ETA - GOV.UK

Dual citizens

If you’re a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship, you cannot get an ETA. When you travel to the UK you’ll need to prove your citizenship using:

• a valid British passport
• a valid Irish passport
• another valid passport containing a certificate of entitlement

This is the correct way to handle this.

Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?
 

I also know Brit citizens who got an ETA because their Brit passport had expired and they were travelling on the US passport.
Just gave US passport details.
It would appear that there is no cross checking....

Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?
 

Recently travelled to UK using my US passport - did not obtain an ETA before travelling, but took my UK passport to show just in case. (I had put my US passport details when purchasing my ticket and giving passenger information)
Neither going to the UK, nor travelling back from the UK (and using my US passport both ways) did I get questioned as to why as an American citizen I did not have an ETA.
Don't think the authorities have any way of checking if one has another citizenship/passport ....

Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?
 

It is highly likely that even when you enter the UK on your US passport the computer shows that you are in possession of a UK passport as well. See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migration_5

Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?
 

That's what I thought..... which is why I wonder why no-one queried a US citizen entering the UK on a US passport without a, supposedly, needed ETA number. Looks like the system is flawed....

Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?
 

Maybe the official wanted an easy life. They could see on the screen that the person was also a UKC and entitled to enter so why hold up the line when they were going to let them through anyway.

Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?
 

So, you are saying that on their screen would show up the fact that I am a UK citizen - holding a UK passport? In other words they have details of all passports held by a traveller?

Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?
 

The issue is not at the UK Border - the issue is getting an airline to board you without one of these things: 1) A British Passport 2) An ETA 3) Some other travel document like a visa or residency card

The airline check-in clerk will not board you if the computer says no - and you can't get an ETA as a British Citizen without lying on the ETA form (no option to put UK Citizenship under 'other Citizenships')

Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?
 

I travelled on BA using my American passport - did not give any UK passport details when booking or completing my passenger information. At check in was not asked if I had UK citizenship; did not ask to see my British passport. I only presented my US passport.