The United Kingdom confirmed that its new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system will become mandatory on 25 February 2026 for all visa-exempt nationals—including Polish tourists and business visitors—yet an overlooked clause is causing confusion among Poles who also hold British passports.
1. The rule
• ETA replaces the historic visa-free stamp; travellers must apply via mobile app, pay £16 (rising to £20 later this year) and receive a QR-code valid for two years.
• Dual nationals **must** enter on their British passport or hold a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode; an ETA will **not** be accepted in lieu of those documents.
2. Why this matters for Mobility managers
• Thousands of Polish-born professionals naturalised in the UK after Brexit but routinely use a Polish passport to avoid carrying two documents. From 25 February they risk being turned away at e-gates.
• Employers sending staff to UK subsidiaries should audit citizenship status, update traveller profiles in HRIS systems and budget extra time for ETA processing (minimum 72 hours).
• Polish students on Erasmus+ exchanges must also comply if their courses include UK fieldwork.
![UK Electronic Travel Authorisation Goes Live—Some Poles with Dual Citizenship Face Entry Denial]()
3. Practical guidance
Whether you're a dual national, employer, or student trying to decipher the new UK ETA rules, VisaHQ’s Poland portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) provides up-to-date entry guidance and an easy online platform to process ETAs, passport renewals, and right-of-abode documentation—helping individuals and corporate mobility teams stay compliant without hassle.
• Check that the passport number entered in the ETA app matches the document used to board; mismatches auto-trigger airline “no-fly” instructions.
• Holders of UK Settled or Pre-Settled Status linked to a Polish passport are exempt from ETA but must still present the same passport registered in their online EU Settlement Scheme account.
4. Longer-term outlook
The Home Office plans to roll ETA into a full Digital Passenger Record by 2028, paving the way for frictionless “border-by-consent” exits. Polish mobility teams should prepare for similar digital pre-clearance schemes across other Five-Eyes countries.
1. The rule
• ETA replaces the historic visa-free stamp; travellers must apply via mobile app, pay £16 (rising to £20 later this year) and receive a QR-code valid for two years.
• Dual nationals **must** enter on their British passport or hold a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode; an ETA will **not** be accepted in lieu of those documents.
2. Why this matters for Mobility managers
• Thousands of Polish-born professionals naturalised in the UK after Brexit but routinely use a Polish passport to avoid carrying two documents. From 25 February they risk being turned away at e-gates.
• Employers sending staff to UK subsidiaries should audit citizenship status, update traveller profiles in HRIS systems and budget extra time for ETA processing (minimum 72 hours).
• Polish students on Erasmus+ exchanges must also comply if their courses include UK fieldwork.
3. Practical guidance
Whether you're a dual national, employer, or student trying to decipher the new UK ETA rules, VisaHQ’s Poland portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) provides up-to-date entry guidance and an easy online platform to process ETAs, passport renewals, and right-of-abode documentation—helping individuals and corporate mobility teams stay compliant without hassle.
• Check that the passport number entered in the ETA app matches the document used to board; mismatches auto-trigger airline “no-fly” instructions.
• Holders of UK Settled or Pre-Settled Status linked to a Polish passport are exempt from ETA but must still present the same passport registered in their online EU Settlement Scheme account.
4. Longer-term outlook
The Home Office plans to roll ETA into a full Digital Passenger Record by 2028, paving the way for frictionless “border-by-consent” exits. Polish mobility teams should prepare for similar digital pre-clearance schemes across other Five-Eyes countries.
