I was chatting with Swiss friends about this recently, as they will transit via Heathrow on a trip elsewhere later this year. They won’t enter the country through border control. Based on all the information I’ve read here and elsewhere, I said I was fairly sure they need the ETA. They didn’t think it was necessary.
I went to the official website Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK to go through the simple checklist which supposedly tells one whether an ETA is required. I entered 1) Swiss passport, 2) transit only and 3) somewhere else (i.e. not Channel Islands or Isle of Man). What I received was information relating to border control when I specifically stated NOT going through border control.
The answer I received is: “You’ll need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to pass through UK border control. You do not need an ETA if you will not pass through UK border control. You should bring evidence of your onward journey, such as a ticket to your destination.”
So I guess my friends are correct and they do NOT need an ETA. But the way it’s being presented in regular and social media is that everyone needs the ETA even if they’re transiting.
Your friends are correct, they don’t need one if they are purely transit passengers.
Having said that I would probably get one anyway just to be on the safe side, one never knows what might happen with delays and such and they could always end up having a layover or something.
You can transfer between all terminals at Heathrow airside, I.e. without having to go through immigration. It can take some time so be careful with your connecting time.
That is what has been said but expect the airlines, British and Virgin in particular, to oppose this as their business models depend on connecting trafic.
Still not sure if we’d need this or the EITAS thing when it comes in assuming we’re still living in Switzerland when they do. Looks like we’ll just miss the EES one starting as we go over to the UK later this month and come back mid-October. Seems only coach passengers will be having to do it then at Dover.
I think this has been mentioned in outline but seems the requirement for UK dual nationals to use a UK passport to enter the UK is being enforced from 25 February (nice of them to give so much warning). From the below
Dual British nationals have been warned they may be denied boarding a flight, ferry or train to the UK after 25 February unless they carry a valid British passport… But [dual nationals]( will, for the first time, be obliged to show their British passport to travel to the UK or pay what many believe is a punitive price of £589 for a “certificate of entitlement” to attach to their second nationality passport in order to board a flight, ferry or train.
Does this also apply to dual nationals transiting a UK airport and not going landside?
Edit: From Perplexity
Airside transit (staying in the international zone at airports like Heathrow or Manchester, without passing border control) exempts most visitors from ETA, but British dual-nationals still need their UK passport shown at origin check-in. Without it, airlines may deny boarding due to unverified exemption, even for pure transit.
It was originally published in May last year and at that point entering the UK with a UK passport was advice and not requirement. The certificate of entitlement details were only added in November. according to the update history.
It is crazy that a COE which costs non-nationals £20 will cost a dual national £589.
I am a news addict but this strengthening of the rule passed me by. I’m sure it has many others as well.
It means my kids, who only have a current Swiss passport, will need now to get a UK passport too. (which we haven’t bothered with recently due to unnecessary expense).
I would have not been happy to turn up at Calais to go to the UK and been faced with a bill getting on for £1767.
Worth repeating that the UK will be enforcing the requirement for all travelers to the UK ( whether for holiday or business ) that are not British or Irish citizens ( & do not have a British Visa ) need to apply for the British ETA before traveling. It’s been a requirement since April 2025 but has not been enforced at UK borders in order to give travelers ( & no doubt UK Border systems ) time to adjust but will be strictly enforced as from the 26th February 2026.
As with the US Esta scheme, and similar systems used by Canada and Australia, applications must be made online in one of two ways:
Via the app: search for “UK eta” on the Apple app store or Google Play
The airlines are already enforcing it. You will not be boarded if you do not have an ETA or British (Irish) passport. And they will not refund the fare either.
I just have to ask.. why.
What possible advantage can it have to make travel so clumbersome like trying to get into the DDR back in the good old days?
It’s not like criminals or illegals or rich people will be inconvenienced by such measures, not even one little bit.
