1. I am a Brit with Czech citizenship. Do I need a British passport to travel to the United Kingdom, or can I apply for an ETA?
As a British citizen, you do not need an ETA. However, to travel to the United Kingdom you must have a valid British passport. As a dual national, you must travel to the UK either with a valid British passport (or an Irish passport), or with another valid passport (for example, a Czech one) together with a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode in the United Kingdom.
If your children have dual citizenship, the same rules apply – they should have a valid British passport to travel to the United Kingdom. If you are unsure about your citizenship status or the citizenship of your family members, visit Check of you’re British overview
You can also request assistance through Contact UK Visas and Immigration for help.
2. I am British. My children were born in Czechia. Do they need a British passport to travel to the UK?
If a child was born in Czechia to at least one parent who is British, and the child currently has a Czech passport but has never applied for a British passport, they need to obtain one in order to travel to the United Kingdom after 25 February 2026. If a child is already a British citizen, they cannot use an ETA for travel to the United Kingdom. They will need a British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement.
You should establish whether your children are British Check if you’re British and if they are, you should apply for a passport or certificate of entitlement (or their parent should on their behalf).
As a dual national, you must travel to the UK using either a valid UK passport (or Irish passport), or any other valid passport (for example, Czech) with a certificate of entitlement. If in doubt as to your citizenship or your family’s circumstances, use Check if you’re British.
You can also Contact UK Visas and Immigration for help.
You cannot renounce British citizenship until you are 18 years old in most circumstances. For more information visit Give up (renounce) British citizenship or nationality overview.
3. What about Czech citizens who may be British but have had no formal interaction with the UK Government to “claim” it?
If you are a British citizen automatically, then there is no interaction needed to “claim” it. You are British by operation of law. This is set out here Check if you’re British.
Automatic citizenship operates by law, provided you meet the requisite conditions at the time of your birth. Contact with the UK Government, or not, doesn’t affect it and a passport confirms your citizenship, it doesn’t grant it the law does.
There is a formal process to renounce any form of British nationality held Give up (renounce) British citizenship or nationality overview
4. I’ve applied for and been granted an ETA in the past that doesn’t expire until after 25 February 2026, but I am (or think I am) British. Can I use this?
If you are a British citizen, you do not need an ETA to travel to the United Kingdom. However, you must have a valid British passport (or an Irish passport). If you are unsure about your citizenship or the citizenship of your family members, visit Check if you’re British.
You can also request assistance through Contact UK Visas and Immigration for help.
