Stricter passport rules tied to the UK’s new digital border system could leave some travellers paying up to £1,000 to prove a right they already hold: the right to enter their own country.
What Is Changing
From 25 February 2026, British citizens who also hold another nationality will no longer be able to rely on travelling to the UK solely on a foreign passport, even if they have always done so in the past. Airlines will be required to verify a traveller’s British status before boarding, and carriers have been told they must refuse passengers who cannot show specific UK‑issued proof of citizenship or right of abode.
The change is being introduced alongside the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, which creates a digital pre‑screening requirement for many non‑visa nationals. British citizens are not eligible for an ETA when using a foreign passport, closing off a route that some dual nationals assumed would allow them to “enter as visitors” on their other nationality.
New Requirements For Dual Citizens
Under the updated guidance, British and Irish dual nationals will have to enter the UK in one of two ways. They must either travel on a valid British or Irish passport, or present a foreign passport that contains a Certificate of Entitlement confirming their right of abode in the UK.
Crucially, a foreign passport on its own will no longer be accepted for boarding where an airline identifies a passenger as a British citizen. That is a sharp departure from long‑standing practice, under which many dual nationals simply used whichever passport was most convenient or cheapest to renew.
How Costs Can Approach £1,000
For those who allowed their British passport to lapse or never applied for one, getting compliant will not be cheap. A standard British passport application from overseas typically runs to around £280 once courier and related fees are factored in, with higher costs and delays in some locations.
The main alternative, a Certificate of Entitlement inserted into a foreign passport, currently attracts a fee of about £589 when applied for outside the UK. By the time applicants add supporting paperwork, potential fast‑track services, and incidental costs such as obtaining birth certificates, the total outlay can approach or even exceed £1,000 for some families and individuals.
Who Is Most Affected
The rule change is expected to hit British dual nationals who have lived abroad for years and rely almost entirely on another country’s passport. This includes people who left the UK as children, those who acquired British citizenship through descent, and long‑term residents overseas who never renewed an old British passport.
Travel‑risk advisers warn that families with imminent trips could face cancelled holidays or last‑minute bills if they do not act quickly. Employers with globally mobile staff are also being told to audit the status of British dual nationals on assignment, amid concerns that employees could be stranded if turned away at check‑in.
Government Rationale And Traveller Advice
The Home Office argues that front‑loading checks onto airlines will reduce confusion at the border and align the UK with other countries that verify status before departure. Officials also frame the move as part of a broader shift to a fully digital immigration system built around ETAs and eVisas.
Airlines and consular posts, however, are urging affected passengers not to wait until the deadline. British dual citizens planning trips later in 2026 are being advised to check passport validity now, decide whether to apply for a new British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement, and allow weeks—if not months—for processing before they book non‑refundable travel.
