Dual Citizens & ETIAS: You May Need a European Passport (2026)

ETIAS is expected to start in the last quarter of 2026.

As we get closer to the launch date, more practical details will come out, and I’ll keep updating this page as new official information is released with regards to Dual Citizens.

For now, though, one part of the rule is already clear.

If you are a national of a European country or Ireland that requires ETIAS, you do not apply for ETIAS. You are expected to travel using the passport or travel document issued by that European country. The official EU ETIAS guidance says that if this document has expired or cannot be used, you should contact the authorities of that country, otherwise you will not be able to travel.

Smartraveller says the same thing for Australian travellers. It explains that ETIAS is expected to start in late 2026 and states clearly that dual nationals who hold the nationality of a European country will not be eligible for ETIAS. They must travel using the passport from their European nationality.

That sounds simple, but for many people it won’t feel simple at all.

Because the real question is not just, “Do I need ETIAS?”

The real question is, “Am I actually considered a European national?”

If you are looking for a full explanation of what the ETIAS is and who needs it you can start here: The Complete Guide to ETIAS and EES, otherwise lets get straight into it.

Do Dual Citizens of a European Country Need ETIAS?

👉 If you are a citizen of a European country, you do not need ETIAS and cannot apply for one.
👉 But you must be able to prove that by travelling with your European passport.

Why dual citizens may get caught out by ETIAS

A lot of Australians with Greek, Italian, Croatian, Polish, Irish, French or other European family backgrounds have always travelled on an Australian passport.

They may not think of themselves as dual nationals. They also may not have a European passport. And they may not have applied for anything. Some may only know that their parents or grandparents came from Europe, and that is where the confusion begins.

Smartraveller explains that a dual national is someone who holds nationality in more than one country. It also says that whether you are a dual national depends on the laws of Australia and the other country. You could be a dual national because a parent is a national of another country, because you were born overseas, because you married a national of another country, or because you applied for and received another citizenship.

Smartraveller also makes a very important point: a country can view you as its national even if you do not accept it, and some countries do not let you give up nationality unless you follow a formal process.

That last part matters.

It means you should not assume you are “only Australian” just because you have only ever used an Australian passport.

I’m using Australia as the main example throughout this article, but the same rules apply to travellers from other visa-exempt countries such as the United States and Canada.

Why citizenship isn’t always obvious

This is where things get confusing, because not all European countries treat citizenship the same way and in some cases, you may already be considered a citizen without realising it.

The key difference: being eligible is not the same as being recognised.

Just because your family is from a European country, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are a citizen of that country.

And even if you could become one, that doesn’t mean you already are.

Greece is a good example

The Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains that Greek consular authorities do not “grant” Greek citizenship. Instead, they help people exercise a right to citizenship under Greek law. It also states that registration in the records of a Greek municipality is what constitutes recognition of that right by the Greek State, and that this registration is what gives entitlement to a Greek passport.

In simple English, this means:

If you have Greek parents or Greek background, you may have a right to Greek citizenship. But if you have never been registered in Greece, you may not yet be recognised in the Greek system. In that case, you do not have the Greek passport needed to travel as a Greek citizen.

On the other hand, if your parents registered you when you were young, you may already be recorded in the Greek municipal system. You may be a recognised Greek citizen without fully realising it. That is the situation that could catch people out.

However, not all European countries work like Greece.

In some countries, you can be considered a citizen automatically if one of your parents is a citizen. That means you may already be a citizen under that country’s law even if you have never applied for a passport or done anything yourself.

This is where things become tricky with ETIAS.

So who needs ETIAS and who needs a European passport?

For someone with Greek heritage, the difference is important.

If you have never been registered in Greece, have no Greek passport, and are not recognised in the Greek system, then you would normally travel as an Australian citizen. When ETIAS begins, you would apply for ETIAS using your Australian passport.

But if you are already registered in Greece and recognised as a Greek citizen, the situation is different. You are not eligible for ETIAS. You are expected to travel using your Greek passport.

This is why people should not guess. This is a common ETIAS mistake that should be avoided.

Some people will know their status clearly. Others won’t. Some parents may have registered their children years ago and never explained the importance of it. Some families may not even have the paperwork handy anymore. And for many people, getting old documents from overseas, especially from remote villages or older municipal records, can be difficult and slow.

That is why this should not be left until the week before travel.

What if you don’t know whether you are a national of a European Country?

This is the most important practical step.

If you think you may be a national of another country, it is recommended to check with that country’s embassy or consulate before you travel.

For Greek Australians, that means contacting the Greek consulate and asking whether you are registered, whether you are recognised as a Greek citizen, and what documents you need if you want to obtain a Greek passport.

For Italian Australians, the same principle applies, but you need to check with the Italian authorities because each country has its own rules.

This is especially important because in some countries you may already be considered a citizen without realising it.

Situation	ETIAS Required?	What You Do
You are a Dual citizen and have a European & Australian passport	❌ No	Leave Australia with your Australian passport. Enter and leave Europe with your European passport. Return to Australia with your Australian passport.
You are a Dual citizen but do NOT have a European passport	❌ No ⚠️	You are not eligible for ETIAS. You must get a European passport before you travel.
You are NOT a European citizen (just Australian)	✅ Yes	Travel on your Australian passport and apply for ETIAS when required.
You are NOT SURE if you are a European citizen	⚠️ Check first	Contact your consulate before applying for ETIAS or booking travel.

Do not make a false declaration on the ETIAS application

When ETIAS opens, the application will ask about your nationalities.

If you are unsure whether you are a European national, do not simply answer “no” because it is easier.

That could become a false declaration.

The safer approach is to check first. If the consulate confirms you are not recognised as a national, then you can apply for ETIAS as an Australian traveller. If they confirm you are a recognised European national, then you should not apply for ETIAS and should arrange the correct European passport or travel document.

Why this could become messy when ETIAS starts

We saw confusion with dual British citizens when the UK ETA was introduced.

ETIAS could create similar confusion, especially among people with European heritage who have never thought deeply about whether they are a recognised national.

Some travellers will not know they were registered as children. Some will discover they are entitled to citizenship but not yet recognised. Others will need documents from parents or grandparents, and those documents may be old, overseas, misspelled, missing, or stuck in municipal records that are hard to access.

That is why this issue is not just about filling in an online form. It is about understanding your citizenship status before ETIAS begins.

What should you do now?

✅ If you are only Australian and have no other nationality, this is simple. When ETIAS starts, you apply for ETIAS.

✅ If you know you are a recognised European national, this is also simple. You do not apply for ETIAS. You travel using your European passport.

⚠️ If you are somewhere in between, this is where you need to act early. Contact the relevant consulate and ask the following questions:

1. If you are already recognised as a national.
2. Whether you are registered.
3. What documents you need if you require a passport.

Do not assume. Do not guess. And do not wait until your flight is booked.

Dual Citizens of Two Non-European Countries

There’s one more group to be aware of. If you are a dual citizen of two visa-exempt countries (for example Australia and the United States) you will still need ETIAS, because neither country is part of the EU. In this case, ETIAS is linked to the passport you apply with, so it’s important that you travel on the same passport. If you apply using your Australian passport but travel on your US passport (or the other way around), you may run into issues at check-in or boarding.

FAQ’s

Final Words

ETIAS itself is straightforward, but your citizenship status might not be. If you have any European background at all, don’t assume you know where you stand. Take a few minutes to check with the relevant consulate, confirm whether you are recognised as a citizen, and make sure you have the right passport ready. It’s a simple step now that can save you confusion, delays, or even being turned away at the airport later.

📚Related Reading:

• The Complete Guide to EES and ETIAS

ETIAS Guides:

• ETIAS Travel Authorization: Major Update On Start Date
• ETIAS vs EES: Key Differences You Should Know
• ETIAS Common Mistakes
• 🔹 You’re here: Dual Citizens & ETIAS: You May Need a European Passport (2026)

EES Guides:

• European Entry Exit System (EES): Now Live Across Europe
• EES Rollout by Country: Start Dates & Timeline (2025–2026)
• EES for UK Travellers
• EES for Australian Travellers
• EES for US Travellers

UK Entry Rules

• Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): United Kingdom
• Do British Dual Citizens Need a UK ETA? Passport Rules in 2026

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