UK passport rules for dual citizens are changing in just two days – how to prepare
British dual nationals may be refused entry at the border without a UK passport within days, as new rules come into effect.
As of next week, under a new scheme being rolled out by the Home Office, visitors from non-visa countries are required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before arriving in the UK.
While exempt from the ETA requirement, British dual citizens are being warned they could be turned away without a British passport or a ‘certificate of entitlement’ costing nearly £600.
Airlines can accept other forms of proof of citizenship, but are entitled to refuse travel to passengers if their documents are not in order.
What’s changing for British dual nationals?
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From Wednesday, February 25, British citizens who are also citizens of another country will need to enter the UK on their British passport or have a certificate of entitlement attached to their other passport.
While a new UK passport costs £94.50 to process online, a certificate of entitlement carries a hefty price tag of £589.
The change is due to the introduction of the ETA, which will apply to all visitors who would otherwise not require a visa to come to the UK, excluding all British and Irish citizens.
Until now, British citizens were allowed to enter the country on their other passport without issue, but this option will cease to exist as of Wednesday when all other nationals of their country will need an ETA to travel to Britain, for which they as dual citizens are ineligible.
For immigration purposes, the following will be considered dual nationals:
- People who have held dual nationality since birth.
- People born in the UK but who have since acquired citizenship of another country.
- Naturalised British citizens who continue to hold another nationality.
How to prepare for the changes
British dual citizens should ensure they have a valid in-date British passport or a certificate of entitlement in their existing passport.
Those who are already abroad can apply for an emergency travel document at a British embassy to return to the UK.
How much do British passports cost?
The cost to get or renew a standard British adult passport is £94.50 if you apply online, while a standard child passport costs £61.50.
If you apply for a passport via post, the cost is £107 for adults and £74 for children.
If applying from overseas, the cost online is slightly higher at £108 for adults and £70 for children, and £120.50 for adults and £82.50 for children via paper applications.
A certificate of entitlement – a document placed in a foreign passport that proves the holder can live and work in the UK, costs £589.
In the UK, you will usually receive your passport within three weeks, but it may take longer if you have to be interviewed or if more information is required.
If applying from another country, the turnaround times are different.
British passports issued after 2018 are valid for 10 years.
While British citizens are not technically required to enter the UK on a British passport, the Home Office has warned for months that it will become difficult not to do so due to pre-departure checks that airlines are required to undertake.
Some carriers, such as Ryanair, have signalled that they may accept other proof of UK citizenship, such as an expired British passport.
However airlines retain discretion to refuse passengers they believe do not have the correct documents and face fines for allowing people without sufficient paperwork to travel.
What about Irish citizens?
Under the longstanding Common Travel Area agreement between the UK and Ireland, Irish citizens are allowed to live and work freely in Britain.
Irish nationals are also exempt from the ETA requirement applied to all other non-visa visitors and will be able to continue to travel to the UK on an Irish passport will no additional documentation.
The UK does not routinely conduct formal border checks for arrivals from the Republic of Ireland.
What has the reaction been?
Maths lecturer Cesare moved to Britain from Italy in 2016 and became naturalised seven years later in 2023 post-Brexit.
He said: ‘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.’
Others suggested the change would simply bring the UK in line with other countries, including the US, which operates the ESTA visa waiver programme and the EU, which will roll out the ETIAS form for third country nationals later this year.
One Facebook user posted: ‘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.’
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