Holding two passports gives you travel flexibility — but it also raises an important question when planning a British trip: which document should you present for your ETA, and if you already have British citizenship, do you need one at all?
This guide explains the 2026 ETA rules for anyone holding two, how to pick the right passport, and how to sidestep the mistakes dual nationals make most often.
Združeno kraljestvo Vizumi in priseljevanje v Združenem kraljestvu department publishes specific guidance for travellers with more than one nationality. Getting the choice right matters, because your authorisation is tied directly to a single passport number in Britain’s digital border system.
Ključne ugotovitve
- Hold Britansko državljanstvo? You do NOT need a UK ETA — just travel on your British passport
- Dual nationals must present the same document for the ETA and at check-in — the two have to match
- Switching passports to hide a refusal or criminal record counts as napačna predstavitev .
- A UK travel authorisation is attached to one specific passport number
- Renew whichever passport carries it and you will likely need a fresh authorisation
Ali britanski državljani potrebujejo ETA za Združeno kraljestvo?
No. British and Irish citizens are completely exempt. Carry a British or Irish passport and you cross the border on that document — no authorisation required.
Ključno dejstvo: An ETA costs £20, stays valid for 2 years or until your passport expires, and covers unlimited visits of up to 6 months each. Citizens from 48 eligible countries must obtain one before travelling (Source: GOV.UK).

If you hold both British nationality AND another ETA-eligible one (British-Australian, say), simply present your British passport on arrival. There is no obligation to use your non-British document for a Britain trip.
Kateri potni list naj uporabi državljan z dvojnim državljanstvom za ETA v Združenem kraljestvu?
When neither of your two nationalities is British or Irish, you have to decide which passport backs your application. Here is what to weigh up:
Pravilo 1: ETA je povezana z enim samim potnim listom
An ETA is electronically bound to the exact passport number on the application. On arrival, the airline and UK Border Force check that it matches the document in your hand. Present the exact booklet you registered.
Pravilo 2: Uporabite potni list z najčistejšo potovalno zgodovino
Does one booklet carry a cleaner record — no earlier refusals, no overstays? Lean on that one. You must still declare your full immigration and criminal history honestly, whichever document you pick.
Pravilo 3: Obe državljanstvi sta lahko upravičeni do ETA
Where both nationalities come from eligible countries, either booklet works for the application. The authorisation attaches to whichever one you apply with, and that becomes the passport you carry through the border.
Pravilo 4: Če je do ETA upravičeno samo eno državljanstvo
Where one nationality needs a full UK visa and the other qualifies, apply on the eligible one. That is legal and sensible — the scheme was built to cover eligible nationalities.
Ali lahko z drugim potnim listom prikrijete prejšnjo zavrnitev ETA?
No — and it is worth being blunt about why. This ranks among the gravest errors a dual national can make. Britain’s immigration system cross-references applications and keeps records across several databases. Reaching for another booklet to bury a past refusal, criminal conviction, or immigration breach is misrepresentation — a serious offence under UK immigration law.
Get caught and the fallout includes refusal of entry on the spot, a long or permanent ban, and possible criminal prosecution. Declare every earlier refusal openly, no matter which document you apply with.

Kaj se zgodi, ko poteče veljavnost potnega lista?
When the booklet tied to your authorisation expires, you must obtain a fresh one against your replacement passport — even if the original would otherwise still sit inside its 2-year validity window. That holds for both nationalities if you carry two passports.
On every trip, hand over the exact document your permit sits on. Show a new booklet at check-in while the permit still points at an old or different one, and problems follow.
Dvojni državljani pri mejni kontroli v Združenem kraljestvu
Border officers may ask about your other nationality. That is routine. Nothing requires you to hide holding two, and concealing it only invites trouble. Present the booklet your permit is registered against, and answer plainly.
Podroben pregled dogajanja na mejni policiji v Združenem kraljestvu najdete v našem vodniku po Postopek mejne kontrole ETA na letališčih v Združenem kraljestvu 2026.
ETA za otroke z dvojnim državljanstvom
Children who hold two nationalities (one parent British, one Australian, for instance) need the same check: which booklet do they travel on? A British child uses the British passport — no permit needed. When neither nationality is British or Irish, apply on whichever eligible document the child will carry. For full family guidance, see our Vodnik ETA za otroke v Združenem kraljestvu za leto 2026.
Kateri potni list morate uporabiti za ETA v Združenem kraljestvu?
The core rule for anyone with two nationalities is simple: apply on the passport you actually plan to fly with. The permit binds to that number, so it has to match the booklet you show at check-in and at the border.
Če imate britanski potni list
Where one of your citizenships is British, no permit applies to you whatsoever. British nationals have the right to arrive freely on their British passport. Even when your second nationality would need one, reach for the British booklet every time. If it has lapsed, renew it through the Urad za potne liste HM instead of applying on your other document.
Če noben od potnih listov ni britanski

With two non-British nationalities, check whether either country escapes the requirement. Some need a full visa rather than a permit; a few enter visa-free. If one booklet allows permit-free entry, favour it. If both need one, pick whichever suits your wider itinerary — remember the authorisation lasts two years and covers repeat visits.
Pogoste kombinacije dvojnega državljanstva
Here are common scenarios for dual nationals heading to Britain in 2026:
- Dvojni državljani ZDA/Kanade — Both nationalities need a permit. Pick whichever booklet you plan to fly on; many travellers favour their US passport here for the stronger diplomatic ties.
- Avstralski/novozelandski dvojni državljani — Both require one too. Use the passport you normally travel on, since the system treats them equally.
- Dvojni državljani EU in držav nečlanic EU — If one passport is from an EU country, check the latest rules. Since Brexit, EU citizens have needed an authorisation from 2025 onwards.
- Britanski/drugi dvojni državljani — Always arrive on your British passport. No permit required.
Kaj se zgodi, če med potovanji zamenjate potni list?
Because the permit binds to one specific passport number, any change of document ripples through to it. The common cases:
Podaljšanje potnega lista
Renew the booklet your permit sits on and the existing one lapses. You then request a replacement against the new number; there is no way to move a permit between passports. The upside: the process is quick and cheap at £20, so a fresh one is no hassle.
Prehajanje med potnimi listi
Apply on Passport A, then decide to fly on Passport B, and the permit simply will not work. Two ways out: stick with Passport A as planned, or buy a second permit against Passport B. Some frequent flyers keep live permits on both booklets for flexibility — £20 each, but convenient.
Izgubljeni ali ukradeni potni listi
Lose the booklet your permit is on — or have it stolen — and you must replace the passport first, then request a new permit. The old one cannot be recovered or moved across. Report the loss to your embassy at once and start the replacement early if a British trip is coming up.
Pogosto zastavljena vprašanja

Imam britansko in avstralsko dvojno državljanstvo - kateri potni list za vstop v Združeno kraljestvo?
Your British one. British citizens need no permit and should always arrive on that booklet. Reaching for your Australian passport and applying while you hold British citizenship is pointless and can confuse things at the border.
V enem potnem listu mi je bila ETA zavrnjena - ali lahko zaprosim v drugem potnem listu?
No. A refusal on one booklet must be declared on any later application, whatever document you use. Hiding it behind another passport is misrepresentation. After a refusal, take professional immigration advice and weigh a Standard Visitor Visa instead. See our guide on kaj storiti, če je ETA v Združenem kraljestvu zavrnjena.
Ali moram v vlogi za ETA v Združenem kraljestvu navesti svoje drugo državljanstvo?
Yes. The form asks about your nationality and may ask about any others you hold. Answer honestly. Holding two is entirely legal and does nothing to harm your case.
Moja ETA je navedena v starem potnem listu, pravkar pa sem dobil novega - kaj naj storim?
If the old booklet has expired and your permit sits on it, request a replacement against the new passport before you fly. The permit is bound to that one number and cannot be transferred.
After you submit, learn kako preveriti status ETA v Združenem kraljestvu to confirm approval before you travel.
Če z enim od svojih potnih listov potujete čez Združeno kraljestvo, preberite naše Vodnik po tranzitu in postanku ETA v Združenem kraljestvu za posebne zahteve.
Hitro potrebujete čas predvidenega prihoda na pot? Naš nujni vodnik za ETA v Združenem kraljestvu pojasnjuje najhitrejši način za odobritev.
Izognite se pogostim napakam pri vlogah za dvojno državljanstvo s pregledom našega seznama Napake v vlogi za ETA v Združenem kraljestvu.
Načrtujete pot po Združenem kraljestvu? Obiščite Veliko Britanijo ponuja obsežne vire za načrtovanje potovanj ne glede na to, s katerim potnim listom vstopate v državo.
Uradni viri in reference

- Vlada Združenega kraljestva - elektronska potovalna odobritev (ETA)
- Vlada Združenega kraljestva - dvojno državljanstvo
- Vlada Združenega kraljestva - preverite, ali potrebujete vizum za Združeno kraljestvo
- Vizumi in priseljevanje Združenega kraljestva (UKVI)
- Obiščite Veliko Britanijo - Načrtujte svoje potovanje
Praktični nasveti za dvojne državljane, ki potujejo v Združeno kraljestvo
Drawing on the questions dual nationals ask most, here are practical steps to keep both the application and the journey smooth:
- Bodite dosledni — One booklet across the application, the airline booking, check-in and the border. Mixing them invites confusion and even denied boarding.
- Preverite obe državljanstvi — Before applying, verify the requirements for each of your citizenships. One may offer easier entry or extra benefits.
- Imejte oba potna lista pri roki — Even if you arrive on one, carry both while travelling. You may need the other for the return leg or onward connections.
- Prijavite se vnaprej — Dual-nationality cases are processed just like single-nationality ones, but applying early leaves time to fix any snag with either booklet.
- Shranite potrditev — Screenshot or store the approval email, and note which passport number it belongs to — especially if you routinely carry both.
Zaključek
The 2026 rules for travellers who hold two passports are clear: always fly in on the passport your permit is bound to, never juggle documents to bury your travel history, and if one of your nationalities is British, use that booklet and skip the permit altogether.
For questions about your own situation, apply through VisaETA or check the official Stran ETA v Združenem kraljestvu na spletnem mestu GOV.UK.

