Dual Nationals Face Scramble for UK Passports as New Regulations Come into Power

Published: February 17, 2026 | A major shift in UK border control policy is causing significant disruption for thousands of British dual nationals. New rules, part of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system rollout, now require these individuals to use a British passport or an expensive Certificate of Right to Abode when returning to the UK. With the February 25, 2026 deadline imminent, many long-term residents feel blindsided by the changes and the government’s communication strategy.

Introduction

The United Kingdom’s immigration landscape is undergoing its most significant modernization in decades. As part of a sweeping reform to create a “digital, streamlined border,” the government has introduced the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system. While designed to enhance security and pre-screen visitors, a critical and unintended consequence has emerged: a bureaucratic crisis for British citizens who hold dual nationality. Effective February 25, 2026, the rules for dual nationals entering the UK have fundamentally changed, creating a last-minute scramble for documentation and sparking accusations of betrayal and discrimination against a group that has lived, worked, and paid taxes in the UK for years.

This article provides a clear, authoritative breakdown of the new regulations, explains who is affected, details the real-life impacts on citizens like Jelena and Petra, analyzes the government’s rationale and critics’ responses, and offers practical advice for those navigating this sudden change. We separate fact from fear, providing verifiable information to help dual nationals protect their right to return home.

Key Points at a Glance

• New Rule (From Feb 25, 2026): British dual nationals must enter the UK using a valid British passport or a Certificate of Right to Abode (formerly Certificate of Entitlement) stapled into their non-UK passport. Using only a foreign passport will no longer grant entry.
• Who is Affected: All British citizens holding another nationality, except those with an Irish passport. This includes UK-born citizens with foreign heritage and naturalized Britons who retain their original citizenship.
• Costs & Delays: A standard adult British passport costs approximately £100. The Certificate of Right to Abode costs £589 and can take weeks to process. Both documents are not automatically issued upon citizenship.
• Government Rationale: The changes align UK border policy with countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia and are part of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system to modernize immigration controls.
• Criticism: Affected individuals and advocacy groups like the3million cite catastrophic communication, last-minute implementation, and discriminatory impact, leaving people stranded abroad or facing exorbitant, unexpected costs.

Background: The Old Rules vs. The New Reality

The Pre-2026 “Loophole”

Prior to the 2026 changes, the UK operated a pragmatic system for its dual citizens. A British national holding a second passport from a country that did not require a UK visa (e.g., most EU nations, the US, Canada) could simply present their foreign passport upon arrival in the UK. Border officials would verify their British citizenship through other means, such as a UK birth certificate or naturalization certificate, if needed. This practice, while not codified as a formal “right,” was a widely accepted and used administrative convenience for decades.

The Catalyst: The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) System

The catalyst for change is the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. Launched in phases, the ETA system requires all non-UK nationals who do not need a visa for short visits to obtain a digital travel permit (costing £16, rising to £20) before boarding a flight or ship to the UK.

Critically, British citizens are explicitly exempt from needing an ETA. However, the government’s digital border infrastructure now requires airlines and ferry operators to perform automated checks against passenger lists. The system is designed to flag anyone who does not have an ETA and is not presenting a valid British passport. This created a technical problem: when a dual national presented only their foreign passport, the airline’s system could not automatically verify their British citizenship, risking the airline being fined for transporting a passenger without the correct documentation.

The Official Solution: Standardizing Documentation

To resolve this systemic ambiguity and bring the UK in line with international norms, the Home Office mandated that from February 25, 2026, all British nationals must use a British passport to enter the UK. For those holding a foreign passport, the only alternative is to obtain a Certificate of Right to Abode. This is a physical, vignette-style certificate that is affixed inside the non-UK passport, explicitly stating the holder’s right to live and enter the UK without immigration control.

This certificate is not new—it has long existed for certain categories of Commonwealth citizens—but its application to all dual nationals and its mandatory role in this context is a new and significant requirement.

Analysis: Why the Outcry? Unpacking the Controversy

The Government’s Position: Streamlining and Security

The UK Home Office maintains that the policy is logical, necessary, and in line with global best practices. A spokesperson stated: “This requirement applies to all British voters irrespective of other nationality and is similar to the approach taken by other countries, including the United States, Canada and Australia.” The core arguments are:

1. Border Efficiency: A single, verifiable document (a British passport) simplifies checks for airlines and border officials, reducing errors and delays.
2. Security: The ETA system allows for pre-screening of all non-exempt travelers. Requiring a British passport ensures dual nationals are correctly classified in the system from the outset.
3. International Parity: Many countries, notably the US, require their citizens to enter and exit on their national passport. The UK is simply adopting a similar standard.

The government asserts that public information has been available since October 2024 and that a “substantive communications campaign” has been running since 2023 regarding the ETA’s introduction.

The Critics’ Case: Betrayal, Discrimination, and Poor Communication

For the individuals affected, the reality is starkly different from the government’s clean narrative of modernization. The primary criticisms are:

1. Catastrophic Communication Failure: Nearly every case study—from Jelena in Latvia to Petra in Spain—involves individuals learning about the change accidentally via social media or word-of-mouth, not from official channels. The timing, just months before implementation, is seen as a deliberate strategy to avoid public backlash or a surge in passport applications that could overwhelm the system.
2. Discriminatory Impact: The policy disproportionately affects a specific, identifiable group: naturalized citizens and those with foreign heritage. As Shaun West, a UK-Swiss dual national, argues, it creates a two-tier citizenship where some Britons face barriers others do not. The exemption for Irish passport holders further complicates the equality argument.
3. Financial Burden and Bureaucratic Hurdle: The £589 fee for a Certificate of Right to Abode is seen as punitive, especially when combined with the cost of a new passport. The process to obtain it from abroad is described as “ridiculously dear” and complex, requiring appointments at specific British consulates.
4. Stranded Citizens and Disrupted Lives: The immediate effect is people being unable to return to their homes, jobs, and families. Jelena faces being locked out of her own flat in Glasgow. Petra’s work travel to the US is in jeopardy. Linn Kathenes must gamble on her documentation arriving before a school trip. These are not hypotheticals; they are imminent realities.
5. Questionable Necessity: Critics argue the problem is artificial—created by the government’s own ETA system’s design. If airlines cannot verify citizenship via a foreign passport, a simple digital check against a citizenship registry (as some countries have) would solve it without burdening citizens with new documents.

Monique Hawkins of the3million, an advocacy group for EU citizens in the UK, sums it up: “The Home Office has not done enough to warn dual nationals of the serious impact this will have on them.” Her call for a “low-cost, one-off travel authorisation” for disrupted travel plans highlights the human cost the government’s rollout has ignored.

Practical Advice for Affected Dual Nationals

If you are a British dual national, here is a step-by-step action plan. Do not wait.

Step 1: Confirm Your Status

You are affected if you:

• Hold a valid British passport OR are a British citizen by birth, descent, or naturalization.
• Also hold a passport from another country (e.g., EU, US, Canada, Australia, India, Pakistan, etc.).
• Are NOT exempt if you only hold an Irish passport.

Step 2: Assess Your Documentation

Check your passport holder:

• Do you have a valid British passport? If yes, you are compliant. Ensure it is valid for travel.
• Do you have a Certificate of Right to Abode? If yes, is it valid and correctly affixed in your other passport? (Most are indefinite).
• If you have neither: You are non-compliant as of February 25, 2026, and risk being denied boarding by airlines or entry at the UK border.

Step 3: Take Immediate Action

If you are in the UK:

1. Apply for a British passport immediately. Use the expedited “Fast Track” service if available (1-week turnaround, higher cost). Standard processing is currently 3-6 weeks. You can apply online via the HM Passport Office.
2. Alternative: Apply for a Certificate of Right to Abode (Form ROA). This is cheaper than a new passport only if you already have a valid British passport you cannot use (e.g., lost/stolen abroad), but for most, getting a British passport is simpler and often cheaper overall.

If you are abroad:

1. Contact the nearest British consulate or embassy immediately. Explain your situation and impending travel. Inquire about emergency travel documents or passport renewal services from that location. Note: Most consulates can issue emergency passports valid for a single journey back to the UK.
2. If you have a foreign passport, you can apply for a Certificate of Right to Abode from overseas, but you must submit your original foreign passport with the application, meaning you will be without it for weeks. This is a major risk if you need it for other travel.
3. For urgent cases, some consulates may offer appointments for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD), which allows a one-way trip to the UK. You would then apply for a full passport from within the UK.

Step 4: Prepare for Travel

When traveling on or after February 25, 2026:

• Carry the passport you are using for travel (British or foreign with Certificate).
• Have any supporting documents ready (e.g., naturalization certificate, previous UK passport) in case of an anomaly at the border.
• If using a foreign passport with a Certificate, ensure the certificate is undamaged and clearly visible.
• Check with your airline directly about their documentation requirements well in advance. They will enforce the rules strictly.

Important Warnings

• Do not rely on an ETA. As a British citizen, you are not eligible for one. Attempting to use one will not work and may complicate your entry.
• Costs are non-refundable. If your application is delayed, you cannot get a refund. Factor in processing times.
• There is no public “grandfathering” clause. The rules apply to all dual nationals, regardless of how long they have held British citizenship or how often they have traveled before.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: I have a British passport that expired last year. Can I use it to re-enter the UK?

A: No. Your British passport must be valid for travel. An expired passport is not a valid travel document. You must renew it. If you are abroad and your passport expired, you need an Emergency Travel Document from a British consulate.

Q2: I’m a dual national but my non-UK passport is from a country that requires a UK visa (e.g., India, China). Do these new rules apply to me?

A: Yes, but your situation is different. You have always needed a UK visa in your non-UK passport to enter. Now, you must also either present a valid British passport or a Certificate of Right to Abode in your non-UK passport. The visa requirement remains separate. Your primary travel document for the UK should be your British passport.

Q3: What is the “Certificate of Right to Abode” exactly? Is it the same as “Right to Abode” on my BRP?

A: The Certificate of Right to Abode (form ROA) is a physical, passport-sticker document that proves you have the right to enter and live in the UK without immigration control. It is not the same as the “Right to Abode” status shown on a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). A BRP is for non-UK citizens with indefinite leave to remain. The Certificate is specifically for certain British citizens and Commonwealth citizens with historical ties. For a dual national British citizen, this certificate is the only document that can substitute for a British passport in your foreign passport.

Q4: Can the airline really deny me boarding if I only have my French/German passport?

A: Yes, absolutely. Airlines are legally responsible for transporting only passengers with correct documentation. If their system does not see a valid British passport or an ETA (which you cannot get) linked to your booking, and you present only a foreign passport, they will likely deny boarding to avoid a hefty fine from the UK government. This is the primary enforcement mechanism of