Calls for grace period as uk passport rules dual citizenship deadline sparks chaos
The government’s overhaul of border checks, which tightens documentation for British dual nationals from 25 February ET, has prompted urgent calls for a temporary grace period. Party spokespeople and immigration lawyers warn that short notice, high costs and long processing times have left some British citizens stranded overseas or forced to change travel plans to get home.
What the rule changes require
Under the reworked entry regime, British citizens holding a second nationality must present either a valid British passport or a digital certificate of entitlement attached to their foreign passport before boarding for the UK. Dual nationals will not be eligible to travel on an electronic travel authorisation designed for visa-exempt visitors, placing a new administrative burden on people who have previously used their other passport without issue.
Neither British passports nor certificates of entitlement are issued automatically following naturalisation, so many long-term residents have never applied for either document. A standard adult British passport costs around £100, while the certificate of entitlement carries a much higher price tag in the hundreds of pounds. Both can take several weeks to process, a time frame that critics say is incompatible with the sudden rollout of the new checks.
Human impact and political pressure
The Liberal Democrats have urged ministers to introduce a short, practical grace period, arguing that the lack of forward planning and limited communication has left dual nationals in “completely in the lurch. ” Party spokespeople highlighted examples of people whose travel and family plans have been upended: a newlywed couple on honeymoon in New Zealand considering cutting their trip short, and a traveller in Canada who brought his flight forward to see a dying brother.
Other affected people describe cancelled visits to funerals and an inability to be with sick relatives. One businessman noted he had travelled to the UK on his other passport more than 100 times while contributing tax revenue, and now faces uncertainty because he never needed to hold a British passport for those trips.
The 2021 census shows hundreds of thousands of residents hold a UK-other dual citizenship, underlining the scale of the potential disruption if many are unable to obtain documents before the deadline.
Practical hurdles for travellers and carriers
Airlines, ferry and train operators are being asked to check documentation at departure, raising concerns about carrier liability and the risk of fines if passengers are refused boarding. Immigration lawyers expect a degree of pragmatism at border control in the opening days to avoid major disruption at key ports and airports, but warn that mercy at the gate is not a guaranteed safeguard for those unable to secure new papers quickly.
Critics argue the government should provide a low-cost, temporary alternative for dual nationals who cannot secure new documents in time. They also call for clearer outreach to communities abroad and simpler, faster processing options. Ministers frame the changes as part of a wider effort to modernise and strengthen the border, aligning the UK with systems used by other countries, but implementation questions now dominate the public debate as the deadline approaches on 25 February ET.
With travel plans already disrupted and distressing personal stories emerging, pressure is building for a short, practical remedy to prevent people being prevented from returning to the country they call home.
