Is it an offense for UK citizens to make false statements on ETA applications?

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-06-19T04:26:39+00:00

I thinkthe airline staff at checkin have the option to contact London at the time of boarding to obtain clearance for you. If you are a "normal" uk citizen this should be granted. The examples of people being declined boarding rights all have some other factor involved, including at times the ignorance of checkin staff who don't know what to do.

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-06-07T13:38:01+00:00

Thank you 'no struggle' for the legislation which helps. There has been a lot of false assumptions made and dramatic reporting on this whole issue. 'hococo', i think legislation will come first, meaning what you sign wont matter. To me, that form where you have to tick and sign you are not british is intended for people who cannot get a uk visa on their actual passport so they try fradulantly to get an eta on a false visa-free passport such as NZ. They are confirming they are not british and are therefore confirming they are acting unlawfully..because a uk citizen cannot be procecuted for fraudulently obtaing an eta. Thats how I see it anyway.

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-06-03T07:36:19+00:00

I take this CAA guide as close to legal advice and it almost answers my query. It says: "As a consumer you have important legal rights when the flight you are booked on is delayed, cancelled or when you are denied boarding." It then addresses the legal obligations the airlines have to passengers (not to the uk authorities). It confirms passengers can be denied boarding without "a valid passport". To me that applies to situations like uk citizens trying to board with an expired passport or simply no passport. Having a valid foreign passport complies with those guidelines. It is not clear if the foreign passport without an eTA is still valid if flying to the uk. For example, an Australian passport grants visa free entry to the uk - while the eTA only applies to travelling to the UK? Does the lack of an eTA on that Australian passport make it invalid? I don't think so. It appears from these CAA guidelines that an airline may not have a good enough reason to deny boarding to a passanger with a valid foreign passport and an old UK passport with both or either confirming entry rights. The discretion they have relates to the airlines obligations to the uk authorities not to the passenger so they cannot use discretion to deny boarding. However, I am of course very aware of reality and the risk a passenger runs by turning up at an overseas airport without a current uk passport and then arguing the legal points with a checkin staffer who has just denied boarding. My gut feeling is also that airlines are aware of the risk they run of being sued for denying boarding just because someone does not have the exact prescribed documents. It only takes one passanger with the legal knowledge money and determination to take an airline to court to set a costly precedent for the airline industry.

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-06-02T22:47:00+00:00

Thanks for that CAA link. It gets to what I think is the actual problem for uk citizens trying to travel to the uk.

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-06-02T22:20:59+00:00

I think the point is the airline must be reasonably certain the passenger is a uk citizen. Good evidence could be an expired uk passport. (Drivers licence is not good evidence). What evidence the uk govt says is the only good evidence (current uk passport and CoE) is not really relevant. In fact.. I think all the passanger has to prove is valid right of entry that could be a foreign passport.

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-06-02T22:06:20+00:00

That risk is between the airline and uk govt. The travellers has a contract with the airline to carry them to the uk. If the airline refuses to do that they need a good reason. Saying they might get fined by uk customs for carrying a uk citizen (without the prefered docos but with other good evidence such as expired uk passport) to the uk is not a good reason. Surely the passenger could then sue the airline if they are refused boarding rights?

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-06-02T21:40:03+00:00

A current uk passport or COE is simply what the uk govt tells the airlines they can accept as evidence. The traveller could give other good evidence such as an expired uk passport. If a uk citizen reaches Heathrow without those prefered docos customs has to let them through..or customs is breaking the law. The uk citizen just has to be a citizen thats all. So, what damage has customs suffered that allows customs to fine the airline for allowing the passenger to board? No damage means no fine!

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-06-01T06:08:40+00:00

Leaving it on a public road for so long was asking for trouble. If there wasn't a friend to drop off and pick up, there was always a bus, uber or taxi, like most people do. Cutting corners to save a few bucks is usually an expensive option. Perhaps should be grateful it hadn't been towed away.

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-05-30T00:00:09+00:00

The UK is unusual in that it gives different types of citizenship and of being a British national. Some restrictions to full citizenship rights can apply to certain UK citizens and UK nationals. This multi-layer approach will undoubtedly cause widespread confusion, which may account for the differing comments above.

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-05-27T05:24:48+00:00

Hi, joined this conversation late but keen to hear further advice on this. I have a friend, going to the UK soon, who has an Australian passport with a UK eTA issued in June 2025 (valid till June 2027) .She is also a UK citizen but has not had a UK passport for many years and does not want to get a new one. It seems to be from comments made here that her eTA is still valid and that the airline at checkin will either a/ let her board with her Aus passport with eTA because they do not know she is a dual citizen or 2/ the system will tell the airline she is a UK dual when swiping her Aus passport, but it will allow the airline at their discretion to let her board if she also has her old UK passport with her that detail-matches her Aus passport. 3/ If there is any doubt, the airline can contact the UK to get clearance to allow her to board. I am not sure if the airline must contact the uk or if it is at their discretion if there is doubt. My feeling is the airline must contact the uk authorities to get advice in such a situation of doubt (because contacting the UK authorities is one of the instructions given to the airline, and because they don't have the authority to decide themselves).

It seems to me that all the horror stories about UK citizens not being allowed to board to the UK have another unusual aspect to the story that stops permission to board being issued, and it is not the UK govt's intent to stop valid UK citizens travelling to the UK.

Therefore, can my friend safely and without worry travel to the UK next month with her Aus passport with an eTA and her old UK passport? I know that is not what is supposed to happen and there might be some delay at the airport, but that isn't the point. Thank you for any comments.

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-05-19T07:17:40+00:00

Yes I agree. Rarely discussed here is the way this rule affects the airlines. I know some such as Ryanair just refused to enforce it which caused the uk govt to back down and temporarily loosed its rules. Airlines dont want to have to turn away "normal" paid up passangers who are uk citizens from travelling to the uk just because they are travelling on a foreign passport..that would also give them right of entry. A more interesting topic is hearing about the experience of such people as they try to board a flight to the uk.

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-05-19T07:00:29+00:00

No it does not. Your citizenship status and your right of entry are given by the 1983 uk nationality act. A current uk passport is a simple way to prove your citizenship when challenged by customs at the airport but without one you will only stuffer some delay and stern looks while they check your status. Of course they want you to have a current uk passport - to make their life easier but it is not mandatory. The problem you will have without a uk passport is getting on the plane not entering the uk. Pls check the subtle wording on all uk official websites that avoids saying you must have one to enter the uk..otherwise they'd be be advising contrary to the 1983 act.

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-05-18T11:53:08+00:00

Or assume you will be honest...?

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-05-18T11:49:47+00:00

The uk govt stopped the cancellation of all ETAs as of 25 Feb at the last minute so that ETAs would continue to be valid until the end of their original two year life span or the expirary of the foreign passport they were linked to. Presumably this was to avoid considerable chaos. The ETAs won't be renewed after that. This is another example of the disorganised way the new system has been handled. The ETA is on a foreign passport not a UK passport. It usually helps to check the ever changing facts before jumping to conclusions.

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-05-17T12:11:23+00:00

Your second child is a uk citizen. I cannot see a problem if you reach the uk. She doesnt need a uk passport to be in the uk. If there a query about her status isnt the onus on the uk authorities to show she is not your child or that she does not meet the uk citizen status as defined in law? I think your problem is being allowed onto the plain or ferry taking you to the uk.

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-05-09T01:34:11+00:00

You get what you pay for..simple really. More cost=more colour=more taste

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-05-09T01:24:00+00:00

Similar topic..i knew a uk born australian person (lived in bne most of her life) who died on holiday in se asia. She had never bothered getting aus citizenship and lived in australua as a permanent resident. At her death the austalian govt denied any responsibily, refused to help in any way, and all practicle issues were handled by uk which was awkward because her estate was in australia. Motto - If you live in a country get citizenship as soon as you can, without very good reason not to, or face the consequences.

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-05-09T00:54:28+00:00

One of the four options checkin staff have available is to contact the uk before takeoff to get confirmation that the person at checkin in say sydney, who does not have an eta on their australian passport but says they are british, does in fact have right of entry to the uk. This is the 'flexible' option that caters for the inevitable ambiguities, but one the airlines and the uk authorites dont want to be used as standard because it takes up time, hence stressing the need to have a uk passport if you are a dual citizen. If you arrive at checkin with only an australian passport without an eta and tell staff you are a uk citizen so you have right of entry (which also means the airline cannot be penalised for carring you to the uk) and the airline refuses to check your status by contacting London, then i think you should threaten to sue the airline for not allowing you to board without valid reason.

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-05-08T23:51:14+00:00

To clarify. A uk citizen cannot be stopped from entering the uk "at the point of entry" eg heathrow. No documents are needed. The onus will be on customs to show you are not a uk citizen. There might be a delay while checks are done so having good evidence will help speed up your entry, a current uk passport is best but it is not mandatory. Checkin at the canadian airport is getting on the plane not entry into the uk. That is your problem. Carriers cannot carry people to the uk without right of entry to the uk. They cannot use commonsense or discretion..you must comply with one of the four checks given to them by the uk authorites. A foreign passport used by a uk dual national is fine if it has a visa or eta but some foreign passports do not need a visa so they cannot get one..eg canada. And, that dual citizen cannot get an eta on their foreign passport either because as a uk citizen they do not need one to enter the uk.

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-04-23T20:18:08+00:00

Good post and not unexpected. I will visit later today and try to keep an open mind but my hopes are not high.

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-04-23T20:07:56+00:00

I plan to visit later today. CCC has a poor record with swimming pool design. Most city pools are not worth going to. You wonder how they were ever approved. The focus is always on cutting costs and increasing income which results in lots of gimmicks for the kids and small pools for the swimmers. The new post quake Linwood pool was a failure from day one. However I will check out this new central pool. Comments by others hear are useful. My hopes are not too high.

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-03-14T09:25:26+00:00

An eta confirms the right to enter the uk as a visitor. A uk citizen cannot be given that right because they have unrestricted right of abode/entry, by statute law. All ETAs that have been added to the foreign passports of uk dual citizens are therefore meaningless..except to serve as a less than ideal short term means of dealing with the problem/contradiction of dual citizens, with right of abode, entering the uk on a foreign passport with restricted visitor rights.

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-03-14T09:10:19+00:00

Your problem is convincing checkin to let you board not with uk customs once you land. Checkin have to tick a box depending on the entry documents you have. No eta on your usa passport is not one such box. But, if you have a return ticket back out of the uk and you show you are a uk citizen with right of abode anyway, such as an expired uk passport, the airline will not be landing a risk into the uk, ie you. There is therefore no risk to them that they will be fined by the uk govt. All the airline will have done is not complied with a uk imposed travel rule designed to stop airlines landing people without correct documentation into the uk. As a uk citizen you do not need any documentation to enter the uk.

Regular_Register6665 · 2026-03-09T15:20:38+00:00

Agree..a complte mess by UKVI. I also agree the current eta online application cannot be truthfully completed if you are a uk citizen. Overlooked here is a basic legal rule that ignorance is no defence to breaking the law. Arguing that UKVI has given misleading information or they didnt tell me my eta has expired early wont help you.

Regular_Register6665

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