Necessary documents to travel UK to CH?

[Phil_MCR]

Also an article in newspaper highlighting this change.

Dual citizen Britons without UK passport could be refused entry under rule...

[Spinal]

@MedeaFleecestealer

Not sure why you wouldn’t have. If you were born British you have a birth certificate. If you were naturalised then you have the documentation for that.

Not necessarily. Our son doesn’t have a UK birth certificate, despite being british (born abroad). In the UK, there is (still) a view that ID cards and mandatory ID documents is something that was introduced by the Nazis, and should never become a requirement, lest we lose the freedom we gained.

So you are perfectly fine in the UK never owning an ID document (as long as you don’t travel). Heck, you can even drive without carrying a driving license! You could tell the police that you will bring your DL to the police station within 7 days, as you don’t want to carry it with you. For things like banking and whatnot, you can often ID yourself with utility statements/bills…

[Bowlie]

@Spinal

n the UK, there is (still) a view that ID cards and mandatory ID documents is something that was introduced by the Nazis, and should never become a requirement, lest we lose the freedom we gained.

You mean like the system we use here in Switzerland? I certainly don’t feel less free having a Swiss ID card or being obliged to register my residence.

[KiwiSteve]

This is the British paradox. The desire to have control of immigration, reduce crime etc etc but without mandatory ID documents. You cannot have your cake and eat it.

[ShirleyNot]

@KiwiSteve

This is the British paradox. The desire to have control of immigration, reduce crime etc etc but without mandatory ID documents.

I don’t think it’s THAT much of an issue with the general public, to be fair, but there’s a rampant right wing media that squeals and clutches its collective pearls as soon as anyone mentions “ID cards”.

[Phil_MCR]

I don’t think it is the right wing, it is more the libertarian side.

I think the right wing would probably in favour of it now and link having an ID card to getting benefits etc. to avoid ‘illegal immigrants’ from stealing from the NHS and welfare state.

I think the time is now right to introduce ID cards. But since the UK can’t do anything competently, they should just introduce driving licenses with no permissions on instead of trying to create something new.

Then they can require having this to claim welfare etc.

[ShirleyNot]

@Phil_MCR

I think the time is now right to introduce ID cards. But since the UK can’t do anything competently, they should just introduce driving licenses with no permissions on instead of trying to create something new.

They had that case recently where they wanted to introduce mandatory digital ID but the usual round of Daily Express, Sun, Torygraph and Daily Fail lost its collective mind over it and the PM U-turned back to a level of making it non-mandatory.

Government drops plans for mandatory digital ID to work in UK

[Phil_MCR]

To be fair, introducing ID to enable people to work is probably the last thing that should be on any ID list. Why add friction to people trying to earn a living and contribute to the economy? Maybe first focus on costs e.g. ID for people claiming welfare or using NHS and expanding from there.

[ShirleyNot]

@Phil_MCR

Maybe first focus on costs e.g. ID for people claiming welfare or using NHS and expanding from there.

Agree, and maybe that’s the key - get the marketing right and you will have people queuing up to get one… “It’s your right to access the NHS, and not those pesky Johnny Forrins! Make sure you get one of these exclusive Health ID cards…”

[vaud1991]

Thanks for the useful information peeps
I should have mentioned I was born over there but lost my UK passport 10years ago eventually,
I’ll apply for the ETA and put UK as second citizenship before the stated deadline and try that .

[vaud1991]

@Island-Monkey

If you’re travelling before 25 February 2026

If you have a valid passport for a [nationality that can get an ETA], you can use it to travel to the UK without an ETA or a certificate of entitlement.

did anyone notice this? Does that mean I could travel per my circumstances without any further applications? The statement seems to the point.

[BelgianMum]

Necessary documents to travel UK to CH?

If the OP is quick and plans their trip to take place before February 25th they can legally travel on their Swiss passport without needing to get the ETA.

I gave you that info way back in post #12 and it has-been reiterated several times since.
If you travel before February 25th then you’ll be fine with just your Swiss passport. Beyond that you’ll need a UK passport or certificate of entitlement, the latter is way more expensive than a passport.

[vaud1991]

okay I am sorry you had to repeat that,

thanks however

[Phil_MCR]

@ShirleyNot

the marketing right

I was going to say it has been a failure of marketing by the policians.

[Island-Monkey]

@vaud1991

Thanks for the useful information peeps
I should have mentioned I was born over there but lost my UK passport 10years ago eventually,
I’ll apply for the ETA and put UK as second citizenship before the stated deadline and try that .

If you previously had a British Passport, it should not be too difficult to get a new one! You should start that process asap for the future.

[Flakk]

@Island-Monkey

If you previously had a British Passport, it should not be too difficult to get a new one!

IIRC after 10 years it’s the same process as applying for a first one - you have to provide all the documentation, not just the old passport / old passport details.