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Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?

Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?

Old Nov 8th 2025 | 12:03 pm
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Default Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?

Originally Posted by para22
I have dual citizenship. But I am from Manchester and never ever consider myself a US citizen. That was a paper exercise
I only use my us passport to leave then re enter the US
Ti enter and leave UK I ONLY use my UK passport. You get in and out quicker and don’t have to line up with the yanks👍🇬🇧
After reading that, I hope you were at least born with US citizenship and a dual citizen, rather than being a naturalized US citizen.
 
Old Nov 8th 2025 | 12:09 pm
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Default Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?

It seems the ETA requirement is not being enforced at the moment - I travelled back to the UK last month and used my US passport everywhere (at check in for the flight from the US to the UK and at the UK eGates) and was never prevented from boarding or entering the country. I did take my UK passport but didn't use it.
 
Old Nov 14th 2025 | 2:37 pm
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Default Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?

Originally Posted by MarylandNed
The requirement for a US citizen to leave the US with a US passport doesn't necessarily mean using it to check in with the airline. Having it on your person is sufficient - that way, you are actually leaving the US with your US passport. If you have UK and US passports, always carry both just in case. Always show the US passport if you encounter a US immigration official.

8 US Code §1185 says:
Except as otherwise provided by the President and subject to such limitations and exceptions as the President may authorize and prescribe, it shall be unlawful for any citizen of the United States to depart from or enter, or attempt to depart from or enter, the United States unless he bears a valid United States passport.

"Bears a valid United States passport" does not necessarily mean checking in with it.
US exit controls are integrated into the check-in process, so by checking in with the airline you are officially exiting the US using that passport. This is why you don't encounter immigration officials on departure. It's because the airline collects the data for the government and passes it on.
 
Old Nov 14th 2025 | 7:06 pm
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Default Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?

Originally Posted by tonrob
US exit controls are integrated into the check-in process, so by checking in with the airline you are officially exiting the US using that passport. This is why you don't encounter immigration officials on departure. It's because the airline collects the data for the government and passes it on.
Whenever I have left the USA for the UK I always presented my UK passport and the airline has never asked to see my US passport. This is because they would be fined if I departed for a country and didn’t have the correct authorization to enter that country. When I have offered to show them my US passport I have been told that there is no field on their check-in screen to complete to record this.
 
Old Nov 15th 2025 | 2:40 am
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Default Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?

Originally Posted by tonrob
US exit controls are integrated into the check-in process, so by checking in with the airline you are officially exiting the US using that passport. This is why you don't encounter immigration officials on departure. It's because the airline collects the data for the government and passes it on.
So for a dual national who enters the US on an American passport, but them exists using a British passport why would it not trigger in the immigration system that someone leaving the country with no record of coming in for the next time they come into country ?

A relative who is a dual national recently leaving the US told to check in with UK passport, but to show USA passport to TSA agents.
 
Old Nov 16th 2025 | 4:06 am
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Default Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?

Originally Posted by morpeth
So for a dual national who enters the US on an American passport, but them exists using a British passport why would it not trigger in the immigration system that someone leaving the country with no record of coming in for the next time they come into country ?

A relative who is a dual national recently leaving the US told to check in with UK passport, but to show USA passport to TSA agents.
No one cares if you are dual citizen (UK-US). Two words: Five Eyes.
 
Old Nov 16th 2025 | 7:44 am
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Default Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?

Originally Posted by destone
No one cares if you are dual citizen (UK-US). Two words: Five Eyes.
Yeah, the 5 countries who share passport and immigration details among other stuff
 
Old Nov 29th 2025 | 7:10 pm
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Default Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?

I'm UK-Canadian citizen wondering about this as it was just announced this would be implemented https://nationalpost.com/news/canada...orce-canadians . My children are technically dual nationals as well at birth. But I don't feel like spending a bunch of money on some UK passports. Such a ridiculous requirement. I will be applying as a Canadian citizen only. Glad to know this works.
 
Old Nov 30th 2025 | 1:18 am
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Default Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?

Originally Posted by CanadaJimmy
I'm UK-Canadian citizen wondering about this as it was just announced this would be implemented https://nationalpost.com/news/canada...orce-canadians . My children are technically dual nationals as well at birth. But I don't feel like spending a bunch of money on some UK passports. Such a ridiculous requirement. I will be applying as a Canadian citizen only. Glad to know this works.
Does Canada allow dual citizens to get Canadian ETAs?
 
Old Nov 30th 2025 | 2:12 am
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Default Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?

Originally Posted by postbox134
Does Canada allow dual citizens to get Canadian ETAs?
No.
 
Old Nov 30th 2025 | 6:28 am
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Default Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?

Interesting that's true, I didn't realize. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...it-canada.html

Not sure why governments are clamping down and making life difficult on this. Very frustrating and unrealistic expectation.
 
Old Nov 30th 2025 | 6:34 am
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Default Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?

Originally Posted by CanadaJimmy
Interesting that's true, I didn't realize. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...it-canada.html

Not sure why governments are clamping down and making life difficult on this. Very frustrating and unrealistic expectation.
Personally, I'd keep a valid passport for all my Citizenships (if I had multiple) and treat that as a minor cost of having such a privilege.
 
Old Nov 30th 2025 | 3:07 pm
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Default Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?

Originally Posted by postbox134
Personally, I'd keep a valid passport for all my Citizenships (if I had multiple) and treat that as a minor cost of having such a privilege.
I don't see how maintaining a passport is connected to how much you value your citizenship status. I am happy to be a British Citizen, but the reality is, since becoming Canadian, it's a document I have little use for, especially without the perks of EU membership. Maybe I'm missing something but I don't see the value.
 
Old Nov 30th 2025 | 7:05 pm
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Default Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?

Originally Posted by CanadaJimmy
I don't see how maintaining a passport is connected to how much you value your citizenship status. I am happy to be a British Citizen, but the reality is, since becoming Canadian, it's a document I have little use for, especially without the perks of EU membership. Maybe I'm missing something but I don't see the value.
I agree. The main value of maintaining it might be if/when Britain lines up with many other countries including Canada, USA and Australia, and insists on its citizens using their passport to enter the country.

Our son grew up in the USA and after 30 years there decided to move back to England in 2017. He needed a British passport to be able to work so had to apply for new one. Since it had been over 10 years since his last passport had expired then he had to apply from scratch as if he had never had a passport. He was doing this from the USA, and it was a real pain and took him months to sort out.
 
Old Dec 1st 2025 | 7:07 am
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Default Re: Traveling to UK Use American or British Passport ?

Originally Posted by CanadaJimmy
I don't see how maintaining a passport is connected to how much you value your citizenship status. I am happy to be a British Citizen, but the reality is, since becoming Canadian, it's a document I have little use for, especially without the perks of EU membership. Maybe I'm missing something but I don't see the value.
With all the changes in the US or UK on immigration and other rules, I think having a physical passport is just insurance.
 

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