From February 25, 2026, a significant change in British border control will take effect, directly impacting thousands of dual British nationals living and traveling abroad. The UK Home Office has announced that, under new rules, dual citizens will no longer be able to enter the UK using only a non-British passport. Instead, they must present either a valid British passport or a certificate of entitlement to prove their status at the point of entry. This move, part of a wider overhaul of the nation’s immigration system, has already sparked widespread concern and confusion among affected citizens, particularly those residing in Europe.
According to reports from The Guardian and News18, the new policy is tied to the Home Office's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. While British and Irish citizens are exempt from needing an ETA, all other travelers to the UK—including short-term visitors from visa-free countries—will be required to obtain prior permission before travel. For these visitors, the ETA costs £16. But for dual British nationals, the stakes are far higher: they must now either travel with a valid British passport or pay a hefty £589 fee for a certificate of entitlement, which is attached to their other nationality passport.
The Home Office's statement on the matter was clear: "From 25 February 2026, all dual British citizens will need to present either a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement to avoid delays at the border." The department emphasized that this change is part of a broader digitisation programme aimed at creating a "seamless travel experience" while also enhancing the government’s ability to prevent threats and maintain a comprehensive picture of immigration patterns.
Previously, many dual nationals—especially those holding EU passports—were able to travel to the UK without issue, as British citizenship could be verified upon arrival. Under the new system, however, airlines, ferries, and train operators are required to verify travel permission before departure. Without the required documents, carriers may refuse boarding altogether. This means that for the first time, dual nationals traveling on a non-British passport must proactively prove their British status before even setting foot on UK-bound transport.
The financial implications have not gone unnoticed. Obtaining a new British passport costs approximately £94.50, a sum that can quickly add up for families needing to maintain multiple passports. The alternative—applying for a certificate of entitlement—comes with a price tag of £589, and overseas applications can be even higher. Many British citizens living abroad have criticized the certificate as prohibitively expensive, particularly for those with children or large families. As one British woman living in Germany told The Guardian, "Keeping up two passports for a family is an expensive 'luxury' that not everyone can afford." She expressed frustration at being "treated as Brexit collateral once again with this short-notice, shortsighted, arbitrary change of the rules."
Communication, or the lack thereof, has been another major point of contention. Numerous dual nationals have reported that the Home Office did not clearly communicate the new requirements, leaving them scrambling to comply before the deadline. A dual national born and educated in London, now traveling frequently for work, explained his predicament: he had booked a flight for a work trip and only later discovered that he may be stranded upon his return. "I found myself having to travel at short notice and am now facing the idea that I may not be allowed back into the country," he said.
There are also unique legal challenges for dual nationals residing in certain countries. In Spain, for example, individuals who naturalise are required to renounce their previous citizenships. Presenting a British passport at the airport could, therefore, jeopardize their Spanish nationality. As Julie, a British woman living in Spain for over 30 years, explained, "It seems a strange anomaly that while the UK is willing to recognise dual nationality, it refuses to recognise that a valid EU passport held by a UK citizen can give right of entry to the UK." She noted that the rule change will also affect many children of British citizens born in Spain who have never held a British passport but whose records will show as dual nationality at border control.
Children born abroad to British parents, who may have never held a British passport but are technically British citizens, face a new set of travel restrictions under the policy. This has caused anxiety among parents concerned about their children’s ability to travel to the UK for family visits, education, or emergencies.
Campaign groups have begun to speak out. The EU citizens’ campaign group The 3 million has called for a more accessible solution, advocating for a low-cost, one-off travel authorisation similar to the system used in Canada. Monique Hawkins, the group's head of policy and advocacy, stated, "The UK already has the technology to do the same, so we urge them to act now to ensure British citizens are not locked out of their own country."
For its part, the Home Office maintains that the changes are necessary for national security and border efficiency. The spokesperson emphasized that the digitisation programme would give the government "greater power to stop those who pose a threat from setting foot in the country and gives us a fuller picture of immigration." Still, the policy has left many dual nationals feeling caught off guard and unfairly burdened, especially as the deadline looms and administrative backlogs persist.
Short-term visitors from visa-free countries—such as those from the United States or Australia—will also need to adapt, as they must now obtain an ETA for £16 before traveling. British citizens, however, cannot apply for an ETA, making the British passport or certificate of entitlement the only options for dual nationals.
As the February 25 deadline approaches, the British government faces mounting pressure to reconsider the rigidity and cost of the new requirements. The stories of affected individuals—parents worried about their children, professionals facing unexpected travel barriers, and long-term expatriates anxious about their legal status—underscore the real-world impact of what might otherwise seem like a bureaucratic adjustment. Whether the Home Office will heed calls for a more affordable and flexible solution remains to be seen, but for now, dual British nationals worldwide are being urged to check their documents and prepare for a new era in UK border control.
The coming weeks will reveal whether this overhaul delivers on its promise of seamless travel—or simply creates new obstacles for citizens whose ties to the UK remain strong, no matter where they call home.