Thousands of United Kingdom dual nationals are rushing to secure British passports or entitlement documents ahead of new border rules taking effect on 25 February, amid fears some could be barred from re-entering the country.
Under the revised policy, British citizens with another nationality will no longer be permitted to enter the UK using a non-British passport, even if their second nationality does not require a visa. Instead, they must travel with a valid UK passport or a digital certificate of entitlement linked to their foreign passport.
The changes form part of wider immigration reforms tied to the rollout of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, which the government says will modernise and streamline border controls.
Many dual nationals say they were unaware of the new requirements and now face tight deadlines, lengthy processing times and high costs. A British passport costs about £100, while a certificate of entitlement costs £589 and can take weeks to obtain.
Irish passport holders are exempt, but the rules will affect other European citizens with British nationality. Dual nationals are not eligible to apply for an ETA and must instead meet the new documentation requirements, with airlines responsible for checking compliance before departure.
According to the 2021 census, more than 1.2 million UK residents hold dual nationality. Critics argue poor communication and short notice have left many at risk of being stranded abroad, particularly those already travelling or living temporarily outside the UK.
Campaign group the3million, which represents EU citizens in Britain, accused the Home Office of failing to adequately warn those affected. It has urged the government to pause the changes or introduce a low-cost temporary travel authorisation for dual nationals.
The Home Office said information on the new requirements has been publicly available since October 2024 and insisted the policy aligns the UK with countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia. Officials stressed that all British citizens, regardless of other nationalities, will be required to travel using valid UK documentation once the rules are enforced.
