A UK passport warning has been issued after an elderly British woman, aged 93, was barred from entering the country under new travel regulations. The introduction of an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) requirement means that individuals with dual citizenship for the UK from non-visa national countries can no longer use their foreign passport to travel to the UK.
Impact on Dual Nationals
This change affects British dual nationals residing in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The Home Office acknowledged that implementing the ETA scheme has significant implications for some British dual nationals. The 93-year-old woman, who holds a Canadian passport despite being born in the UK, was denied entry without a British passport.
She warned: "It doesn't matter that I've lived in Canada for decades, hold Canadian citizenship and travel on a Canadian passport. If I want to go to England, I now need a British one too."
Awareness and Transitional Measures
Although British dual nationals have been informed of the change since October 2024, many remained unaware until media coverage in early 2026. The Home Office has rejected calls for additional grace periods or transitional measures. However, it issued temporary guidance to transport carriers regarding alternative documents for British travellers.
Airlines may allow boarding if a passenger shows an expired British passport issued after 1989 along with a valid passport from a non-visa national country, provided the biographical details match. The Home Office describes this as a "short-term transitional measure" at the discretion of individual carriers, not replacing the requirement for a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement.
The government stated that UK Border Force staff will adopt "a compassionate and pragmatic approach to travellers who experience genuine difficulty while this process settles" ahead of the summer holiday season. Mike Tapp, Minister for Migration and Citizenship, assured that enforcement of the ETA requirement will not lead to detention of dual citizens arriving with incorrect documentation or separation of families at the border.
