New Passport Regulations for British Dual Nationals Trigger Travel Turmoil
Strict new passport rules for British dual nationals come into effect tomorrow, potentially leaving some travellers facing a hefty £589 fee to enter the United Kingdom. From February 25, all British dual nationals will be prohibited from entering the country using only a foreign passport. To board a flight to Britain, they must now present a valid British or Irish passport or obtain a 'Certificate of Entitlement,' which costs £589 and can take weeks to process.
Home Office Guidance and Airline Discretion
The Home Office has indicated that airlines may, at their own discretion, accept expired UK passports, but there is no legal guarantee that travellers will be permitted to board. This ambiguity has contributed to widespread confusion and logistical challenges, particularly in Australia, which hosts the highest number of British expatriates at approximately 1.2 million.
Australian-British dual nationals are scrambling to update their British passports as the rule change takes hold. Dean Long, CEO of the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA), highlighted a significant issue: many Australians do not identify as dual nationals but may automatically qualify as British citizens through a parent born in the UK.
'If you have a parent born in the UK, there’s a high probability you’re automatically a citizen, and that’s where the confusion has really kicked off,' Long told Yahoo News. He added, 'This has created chaos,' noting that travellers are only 'now realising what’s involved with the paperwork, the cost, the timeframes,' often just days before departure.
Financial and Practical Implications
The financial burden is substantial. The 'Certificate of Entitlement' costs $1,130 Australian Dollars to apply for, while an adult British passport is priced at $190 in Australia. Alternatively, individuals can renounce their British citizenship for $968 to facilitate travel. These options present difficult choices for those caught unprepared.
The new regulations have been listed on the government website since November 2025, according to The Guardian. Previously, under rules ending today, British dual citizens with a valid passport from a nationality eligible for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) could enter the UK with that foreign passport without an ETA.
Changes to Entry Requirements
ETAs were introduced last year for citizens of countries that do not require a visa to enter the UK. They are mandatory, digital permissions for non-visa nationals visiting or transiting through the UK, costing between £10 and £16 and valid for multiple short trips over two years. However, as of tomorrow, British dual nationals must possess a valid British or Irish passport to gain entry, even if they hold a valid foreign passport.
A potential lifeline exists for travellers with an expired UK passport issued in 1989 or later. They may be allowed entry if they carry it alongside their foreign passport from a country eligible for an ETA, but this is not legally guaranteed. The Home Office stated, 'The personal details on both passports must match. It is the carrier’s decision whether to allow you to travel.'
For those who previously held a UK passport, applying for an emergency travel document is an option, but it requires additional identity checks to verify citizenship before passing through UK passport control.
Political Criticism and Calls for Reform
Amid the overseas confusion and backlash, Will Forster, the Liberal Democrat party's shadow immigration and asylum minister, criticised the changes, citing a 'lack of planning and haphazard communication.'
'Many who don't currently hold a British passport find themselves stranded abroad, having to stump up potentially huge sums of money and face long waits just to get back home,' he said. 'Whilst they sort out the chaos, the government should allow a grace period, as many dual nationals are in heartbreaking circumstances, unable to visit ill family members or attend weddings and funerals. They must also urgently provide a low-cost, affordable alternative to the current system.'
The implementation of these rules underscores significant challenges in travel logistics and citizenship verification, impacting thousands of dual nationals globally and prompting calls for immediate governmental action to mitigate the disruption.
