Lib Dems call for 'grace period' as uk passport rules dual citizenship change sparks chaos
The Liberal Democrats have demanded a temporary grace period after sudden changes to uk passport rules dual citizenship requirements leave British dual nationals abroad facing possible refusal at the border. The rule change, which takes effect on 25 February (ET), requires dual nationals to present either a valid British passport or a certificate of entitlement before boarding for the UK.
Chaos for travellers and families
Lawmakers warn that a combination of limited publicity and long processing times for the necessary documents has created urgent and distressing situations. The party's shadow immigration and asylum minister, Will Forster, said the "lack of planning and haphazard communication" had "left dual nationals completely in the lurch" and that many who do not hold a British passport are now stranded abroad or facing large fees and lengthy waits to return.
Personal stories illustrate the disruption. A newlywed British couple honeymooning in New Zealand discovered the husband — a dual national without a British passport — may need to cut short their trip and fly home before 25 February to avoid being turned away. Another traveller in Canada brought a flight forward to 23 February to ensure he could visit his dying brother; he said he could not risk being denied entry at the UK border without the required documents. Others reported cancelling trips for funerals and memorials, or having to forgo planned visits to seriously ill relatives.
Costs, timings and legal headaches
The new entry checks form part of a wider immigration overhaul that also introduces an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for visa-exempt visitors. Dual nationals cannot apply for an ETA and must instead show either a British passport or a certificate of entitlement stamped into their other passport. That requirement is proving costly: a standard adult British passport runs to roughly £100, while a certificate of entitlement is priced at around £589. Processing can take several weeks, leaving those without either document vulnerable to being unable to travel home.
Immigration lawyers have predicted some pragmatism at the border in the short term to avoid logjams at major airports, but they also warn of practical complications for carriers. One immigration lawyer noted that airlines face carrier liability if they transport passengers who are then refused entry, creating a strong incentive for operators to enforce the new checks at departure points. That tension has led at least one budget carrier to signal it might not fully comply with the new requirement, raising the prospect of further legal and operational disputes in the days ahead.
Calls for a temporary fix and clearer options
Forster has urged ministers to allow a grace period while the system beds in, saying that people are in "heartbreaking circumstances" and need time-sensitive accommodation to visit sick relatives or attend funerals and weddings. He also pressed for a low-cost, accessible alternative to the expensive certificate route for those who have never held a British passport despite long-standing ties to the UK.
Practitioners emphasise two immediate takeaways for affected travellers: check passport validity now and, where possible, apply early for the necessary document. Even so, campaigners say the scale of those caught out — from long-term residents who never needed a British passport to frequent business travellers who have repeatedly used their other nationality to enter the UK — warrants a temporary administrative pause or a cheaper, faster option while systems and communications are improved.
With the change due to take effect on 25 February (ET), pressure is mounting for rapid government intervention to prevent more families being separated and more travellers being left stranded by an abrupt shift in border practice.
