Dual citizen Brits have just weeks to prepare for major UK passport change

British dual citizens coming into the country without a UK passport may soon be denied entry as new rules come into force next month.

As the Home Office’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme comes into effect within weeks, changes are also coming for British dual citizens.

The scheme will soon require visitors from countries that do not need a visa to travel to the UK – like France and Canada – to obtain an ETA before arrival.

But the ETA change also affects non-visitors like dual citizens, as everyone travelling to the UK will have to prove their permission to enter the country, and an airline, ferry or train company can deny boarding if documents are not in order.

What rules are changing for dual citizen British?

Dual citizens have only a month to prepare for the digital change, which the Home Office is introducing in a push to digitalise border measures.

From February 25, 2026, Britons must present a valid UK passport or a certificate of entitlement to prove their status when entering the country.

Previously, dual citizens have been able to travel to the UK using non-British passports.

They have also been able to prove their citizenship status using other documents, if required.

Because British and Irish citizens are exempt from ETAs, they must now travel on a British or Irish passport, or present a certificate of entitlement.

These new entry requirements will apply to all dual citizens living or travelling overseas from February 24, 2026.

Dual national British citizens include:

• British-born people who have acquired another country’s nationality
• People who naturalised or registered as British later in life
• People who have been dual nationals since birth

If you are a British dual citizen, the key thing to do before the February cut-off date is to ensure that you have a valid UK passport and that an existing passport has not expired.

While there is no legal requirement for British citizens to travel on a British passport, pre-departure checks for travellers make it difficult to do so without one, a House of Commons briefing noted.

For months, the Home Office has been advising dual nationals entering the UK to travel on a British passport, but it has not been strictly enforced to allow people time to adjust.

The briefing said: ‘Some people question why they can’t use other documents to prove their right of abode and exemption from the permission to travel requirement, such as an expired British passport or a certificate of naturalisation or registration as a British citizen.

‘Those documents aren’t listed in the Home Office’s document checking guidance for transport providers.

‘Carriers are unlikely to deviate from the guidance because they can be penalised for bringing inadequately documented passengers to the UK.’

Around 1.26 million people in England and Wales hold multiple passports, representing around 2.1% of the population, according to the Office for National Statistics latest census.

What has the reaction been?

Cesare, a 33-year-old maths lecturer at the University of Manchester, moved from Italy to the UK in 2016 and became a British citizen in November 2023.

He told Metro: ‘We all expected this, but my reaction was negative.

‘As it happened with post-Brexit immigration restrictions, everyone ends up paying the price of measures like ETA.

‘Indeed, while ‘ETA is just for visitors’, it is not because now everyone who is not a visitor also needs to prove that.’

He also noted a ‘paradox’ of ‘those who chose not to get a UK passport before, it ends up costing more to dual citizens than to visitors.

‘As usual with these last two governments, policies are rushed through without proper impact assessments and without consulting stakeholders properly, and everyone ends up paying the price.’

One Australian-British dual citizen is disheartened by the upcoming changes as she can’t justify the cost.’

One Facebook user believes the new changes are fair: ‘Australia has always required Australian-born dual nationals to travel into Australia on their Australian passport.

‘This is the same but in reverse. Small price to pay for being lucky enough to have dual nationality.’

Another person commented: ‘It’s a privilege to have dual citizenship.

‘Just keep both passports up to date and enter and exit on appropriate country’s passport. I’ve only ever done this.’

A spokesperson from the Home Office said: ‘From February 25, 2026, all dual British citizens will need to present either a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement to avoid delays at the border.

‘Digitising the immigration system using ETAs [Electronic Travel Authorisation] ensures millions of people enjoy a more seamless travel experience to the UK.

‘ETAs also give us greater power to stop those who pose a threat from setting foot in the country and gives us a fuller picture of immigration.’

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