How are uk passport rules dual citizenship changing for British dual nationals?

From 25 February (ET), sweeping changes to entry documentation for British dual nationals come into force, prompting confusion and anger among people who may be unable to prove their right to return. The shift is part of a wider overhaul tied to a new Electronic Travel Authorisation system and places responsibility on travellers and carriers to ensure the correct documents are presented before departure.

What the new rules require

Under the updated regime, British citizens who also hold another nationality will no longer be allowed to travel to the UK on their non‑British passport unless they also present evidence of their British nationality. That evidence must be a valid British passport or a certificate of entitlement attached to the other passport. Dual nationals cannot use the new Electronic Travel Authorisation and therefore must meet these documentation requirements instead.

The certificate of entitlement is an electronic vignette that is attached to a second nationality passport; it is not issued automatically on naturalisation. Neither the British passport nor the certificate is provided automatically to new citizens, and both can take several weeks to obtain. Typical fees published before the change put an adult British passport at around £100 and the certificate of entitlement at approximately £589. The ETA system for non‑visa travellers launches with a fee of £16 and is expected to rise to £20.

Carriers now carry the risk of fines if they board passengers who lack the right to enter the destination country. To manage that exposure, airlines, ferry operators and other transport providers will be checking documentation at the point of departure. The government has confirmed that carriers may, at their own discretion, accept an expired British passport as alternative proof alongside a valid foreign passport in some cases. Emergency travel documents remain an option for people who need urgent entry to the UK.

Practical problems and public reaction

The changes have left many dual nationals surprised and frustrated. Some people who have lived in the UK for years never applied for a British passport or certificate because their foreign passport sufficed under the previous rules. Children born outside the UK and people with recently expired British passports face particular hardship—new passport applications typically require sending the old passport away, which can prevent an immediate replacement.

Numerical data highlight the scale of the affected population. The most recent national census data show that around 1. 2% of UK‑born residents hold a UK plus another nationality (roughly 587, 600 people), while about 6. 5% of non‑UK‑born residents carry dual UK‑other citizenship (around 648, 700 people). Many of these households will need to move quickly to secure the required documents.

Political and community figures have urged a grace period to avoid family separations, missed funerals and cancelled weddings. Critics argue the system was rolled out with insufficient notice and that the costs and delays in obtaining documents disproportionately burden ordinary travellers. Border officials will still assess suitability to enter on arrival, but the new departure checks make it more likely that some people will be denied boarding rather than being assessed on UK soil.

What affected travellers should do now

Anyone with British citizenship and another nationality should check their documentation immediately. If a British passport is held, ensure it is valid for the journey. If not, consider applying for a British passport or the certificate of entitlement as early as possible—processing times can stretch to several weeks. For urgent travel, investigate whether an emergency travel document is available and whether carriers will accept an expired British passport in the specific case.

Transport operators are empowered to make discretionary exceptions, but relying on that is risky when facing potential fines for carrying ineligible passengers. Dual nationals planning travel should also be aware that Irish passport holders are excluded from these requirements; other EU nationalities are affected. The practical upshot is a new paperwork hurdle at the point of departure that will require planning and, for some, unbudgeted expense.