Electronic Travel Authorisation: Dual Nationals

Daniel Francis Excerpts

Wednesday 25th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Mike Tapp]

We cannot open ETAs to British citizens for the reasons I explained in my statement. The turnaround time on these applications is good; we are looking at within four weeks and, on average, nine days, but as I have said to many Members, please do bring that specific case to the drop-in.

[Daniel Francis (Bexleyheath and Crayford) (Lab)]

My constituent Steve Bainbridge is a dual UK-Greek national. He has raised his experience of a delay in receiving his UK passport forcing him to have to use his Greek passport to attend his daughter’s wedding in the UK. He also highlighted bureaucratic issues faced by women travelling from Greece, such as with their maiden name having to be displayed in their passport and Greek documents using a different alphabet from British ones. Will the Minister outline how, if someone’s UK passport is delayed, they can avoid having to pay several hundred pounds and facing the bureaucratic issues that Steve has highlighted?

[Mike Tapp]

I would urge a meeting on Monday to go through the details of this, rather than trying to break it down in the glare of the public eye.