uk passport rules dual citizenship: new certificate fee sparks panic for long-term residents
The UK is introducing tighter documentary requirements for British nationals who also hold another nationality, with changes taking effect 25 February. Dual nationals who do not hold a British passport will now need either a new digital certificate of entitlement or face being denied boarding or entry. The move has prompted alarm from people who have lived and worked in the country for decades but have not obtained a UK passport.
What the new rules require
From 25 February, travellers who hold British citizenship alongside another nationality must present a valid British passport or a digital certificate of entitlement attached to their non-British passport when returning to the UK. Those who lack either document may be refused permission to board flights or enter the country. The change is linked to the rollout of an Electronic Travel Authorisation system for non-visa visitors; dual nationals are excluded from that online ETA process and fall under the new documentation requirement instead.
The certificate of entitlement carries a fee of £589 and is valid only for the remaining life of the foreign passport it is attached to. By contrast, the ETA costs £16 at present, with government plans to raise that to £20 in future. A standard adult British passport runs at roughly a hundred pounds and takes several weeks to process. Neither the passport nor the certificate are issued automatically to people when they become citizens, meaning some who naturalised years ago have never applied.
Real-world anomalies and mounting criticism
Longstanding residents and dual nationals describe practical and emotional consequences. One academic who worked in the UK for more than three decades said she faces a £589 bill to return from visits to her elderly parent abroad because she holds Belgian and British citizenship but no UK passport. Another dual national noted that, had they not bothered to obtain UK citizenship, they could continue to travel on a foreign passport using the cheaper ETA route.
Critics point to several anomalies. The certificate fee applies only to those who hold British nationality in addition to another passport; single-nationality visitors using the same foreign passport can obtain an ETA for a fraction of the cost. The certificate’s validity being linked to the life of the foreign passport also creates renewals and extra applications whenever the non-British passport expires. There are practical problems too: some have not applied for a UK passport because the application process requires surrender or temporary submission of their foreign passport, which can prevent urgent visits overseas.
For many, the changes feel punitive and poorly thought through. Observers characterise the measures as an expensive administrative hurdle for dual nationals who have built lives in the UK. Census figures show hundreds of thousands of people who hold dual citizenship combined with UK residency, underscoring the scale of those potentially affected.
What dual nationals should do now
People impacted by the new rules should check travel plans and begin applications early. Options include applying for a British passport — which avoids the certificate requirement — or applying for the certificate of entitlement if they prefer to keep relying on their other passport. Both routes take several weeks, and the certificate fee is non-trivial, so advance planning is essential, especially for those with imminent travel or family care responsibilities abroad.
Airlines will check documentation before departure, so passengers should ensure they meet the new criteria to avoid being denied boarding. Irish passport holders remain exempt from this change. Those uncertain about which documents they need should contact the relevant authorities promptly for clarification and to start any application processes well ahead of travel.
The new rules mark a sharp shift toward stricter, digitally driven border checks, and have already prompted calls for clearer guidance and exemptions for long-term residents with established ties to the UK. With the measures now in force, many dual nationals face a fast-moving scramble to secure the paperwork required to return home.
