The Home Office is facing a significant backlash over new border rules that will require dual British citizens to enter the United Kingdom using a British passport or a costly certificate of entitlement.
What are the new rules?
From 25 February 2026, the long-standing practice of many dual nationals using a foreign passport to cross the UK border will end. The change is part of the rollout of the government's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, which mandates pre-travel clearance for visitors from visa-exempt countries.
Until now, individuals holding both British and another citizenship – including from EU nations – have often travelled to the UK on their non-British passport without issue. The new policy closes this loophole, forcing them to present proof of their UK citizenship at the border.
A costly and sudden burden for thousands
Readers of The Independent have slammed the move as a "post-Brexit money-spinner" that will impose unexpected costs and administrative headaches. A core complaint is the suddenness of the announcement, leaving many with little time to prepare.
Numerous dual nationals allowed their UK passports to lapse after Brexit, reasoning that an EU or other foreign passport was sufficient for travel. They now face the expense of renewing a British passport, which costs over £100, or applying for a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode, priced at £589.
One reader estimated that if 100,000 affected people need new passports, the policy could generate £10 million for the government. The financial hit is compounded for families, such as those in Australia where British-born parents have Australian-born children who are automatic British citizens by descent but have never held a UK passport.
Enforcement puzzles and a potential 'Catch-22'
A major point of confusion is how the rules will be enforced. Readers question whether the UK's border systems can reliably flag when a person entering on a foreign passport is also a British citizen.
This uncertainty creates a potential Catch-22 situation. British citizens cannot apply for an ETA, as it is for visitors only. However, if they attempt to travel on a foreign passport without an ETA, airlines may deny them boarding. Conversely, arriving at the UK border without a British passport could lead to entry being refused, despite their inherent right to enter.
"How will they know?" asked one reader, highlighting the practical difficulty for Border Force officers if a traveller does not voluntarily disclose their dual status.
Dual nationality: A status that 'clings'
Commenters emphasised that dual nationality is often acquired automatically or through naturalisation in a country of residence, a path many Britons in the EU took after Brexit to secure residency rights. Renouncing British citizenship is a legally complex and expensive process, making it an unrealistic option for most.
The prevailing sentiment among respondents is that the change introduces unnecessary hassle without clear practical benefits for border security. While a few suggested long-term reforms, such as choosing a single nationality at adulthood, most criticised the policy as poorly conceived and communicated.
The Home Office's new directive, set to take effect in weeks, has left a global community of dual citizens scrambling for information and facing an unwelcome financial burden, deepening frustrations over post-Brexit border complexities.
