![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI_275883260-2bfb.jpg\")
\n\t\tCarriers like airlines and ferry operators will start enforcing the new UK entry rule from next month (Picture: AFP\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tCarriers like airlines and ferry operators will start enforcing the new UK entry rule from next month (Picture: AFP\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
British dual citizens coming into the country without a UK passport may soon be denied entry as new rules come into force next month.<\/p>\n
As the Home Office<\/a>\u2019s new Electronic Travel<\/a> Authorisation (ETA) scheme comes into effect within weeks, changes are also coming for British dual citizens.<\/p>\n The scheme will soon require visitors from countries that do not need a visa to travel to the UK \u2013 like France<\/a> and Canada<\/a> \u2013 to obtain an ETA before arrival. <\/p>\n But the ETA change also affects non-visitors like dual citizens, as everyone travelling to the UK will have to prove their permission to enter the country, and an airline, ferry or train company can deny boarding if documents are not in order. <\/p>\n What rules are changing for dual citizen British?<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up for all of the latest stories\t\t\t<\/p>\n Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates<\/a><\/strong> newsletter or get Breaking News<\/a> <\/strong>alerts the moment it happens. <\/p>\n Dual citizens have only a month to prepare for the digital change, which the Home Office is introducing in a push to digitalise border measures. <\/p>\n \t\t From February 25, 2026<\/strong>, Britons must present a valid UK passport or a certificate of entitlement to prove their status when entering the country.<\/p>\n Previously, dual citizens have been able to travel to the UK using non-British passports.<\/p>\n They have also been able to prove their citizenship status using other documents, if required.<\/p>\n Because British and Irish citizens are exempt from ETAs<\/a>, they must now travel on a British or Irish passport, or present a certificate of entitlement.<\/p>\n These new entry requirements will apply to all dual citizens living or travelling overseas from February 24, 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Dual national British citizens include: <\/p>\n If you are a British dual citizen, the key thing to do before the February cut-off date is to ensure that you have a valid UK passport and that an existing passport has not expired. <\/p>\n While there is no legal requirement for British citizens to travel on a British passport, pre-departure checks for travellers make it difficult to do so without one, a House of Commons briefing noted.<\/p>\n For months, the Home Office has been advising dual nationals entering the UK to travel on a British passport, but it has not been strictly enforced to allow people time to adjust.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tHow much do British passports cost? \t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t The cost to get or renew a standard British adult passport<\/a> is \u00a394.50 if you apply online, while a standard child passport costs \u00a361.50.<\/p>\n If you apply for a passport from overseas, the cost is slightly higher.<\/p>\n A certificate of entitlement \u2013 a document placed in a foreign passport that proves the holder can live and work in the UK, costs \u00a3589.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n If applying from another country, the turnaround times are different. <\/p>\n British passports issued after 2018 are valid for 10 years. <\/p>\n The briefing said: \u2018Some people question why they can\u2019t use other documents to prove their right of abode and exemption from the permission to travel requirement, such as an expired British passport or a certificate of naturalisation or registration as a British citizen.<\/p>\n \u2018Those documents aren\u2019t listed in the Home Office\u2019s document checking guidance for transport providers. <\/p>\n \u2018Carriers are unlikely to deviate from the guidance because they can be penalised for bringing inadequately documented passengers to the UK.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tIs getting a passport too expensive? <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tStay up to date with the stories everybody\u2019s talking about by signing up to Metro’s News Updates newsletter.<\/p>\n Around 1.26 million people in England<\/a> and Wales<\/a> hold multiple passports, representing around 2.1% of the population, according to the Office for National Statistics<\/a> latest census. <\/p>\n What has the reaction been?<\/strong><\/p>\n Cesare, a 33-year-old maths lecturer at the University of Manchester<\/a>, moved from Italy<\/a> to the UK in 2016 and became a British citizen in November 2023.<\/p>\n He told Metro<\/strong>: \u2018We all expected this, but my reaction was negative.<\/p>\n \u2018As it happened with post-Brexit immigration restrictions, everyone ends up paying the price of measures like ETA.<\/p>\n \u2018Indeed, while \u2018ETA is just for visitors\u2019, it is not because now everyone who is not a visitor also needs to prove that.\u2019<\/p>\n He also noted a \u2018paradox\u2019 of \u2018those who chose not to get a UK passport before, it ends up costing more to dual citizens than to visitors.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018As usual with these last two governments, policies are rushed through without proper impact assessments and without consulting stakeholders properly, and everyone ends up paying the price.\u2019<\/p>\n One Australian-British dual citizen is disheartened by the upcoming changes as she can\u2019t justify the cost.\u2019<\/p>\n One Facebook<\/a> user believes the new changes are fair: \u2018Australia<\/a> has always required Australian-born dual nationals to travel into Australia on their Australian passport.<\/p>\n \u2018This is\u00a0the same but in reverse. Small price to pay for being lucky enough to have dual nationality.\u2019<\/p>\n Another person commented: \u2018It\u2019s a privilege to have dual citizenship.<\/p>\n \u2018Just keep both passports up to date and enter and exit on appropriate country\u2019s passport. I\u2019ve only ever done this.\u2019<\/p>\n A spokesperson from the Home Office said: \u2018From February 25, 2026, all dual British citizens will need to present either a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement to avoid delays at the border.<\/p>\n \u2018Digitising the immigration system using ETAs [Electronic Travel Authorisation] ensures millions of people enjoy a more seamless travel experience to the UK. <\/p>\n \u2018ETAs also give us greater power to stop those who pose a threat from setting foot in the country and gives us a fuller picture of immigration.\u2019<\/p>\n Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n For more stories like this, <\/strong>check our news page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI_281953671-9ce4.jpg\")
\n\t\tDual citizens without a UK passport have only weeks left to sort out their travel documents (Picture: ZUMA Press Wire\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n\n
![\"BATH,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769353758_840_SEI_200038765-132b.jpg\")
\n\t\tDual citizen Britons without valid UK passports will have to buy one soon (Picture: Matt Cardy\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Mandatory](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769353758_2_SEI_280896588-c288-e1768486496706.jpg\")
\n\t\tNew rules will change what dual citizen Britons will need to enter the UK (Picture: Economou\/NurPhoto\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
\nMORE: Direct UK to Norway ferry hopes after \u2018push\u2019 for route scrapped 18 years ago<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Dartford Tunnel closed for hours after lorry causes major damage to equipment<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Ryanair cuts all flights to \u2018Hawaii of Europe\u2019 affecting 400,000 passengers<\/a><\/p>\n