Dual British nationals have been warned they could be refused entry to the United Kingdom from 25 February if they attempt to travel without a valid British passport.
Under the new border control requirements announced by the UK Home Office, anyone travelling to the United Kingdom will require prior permission to travel unless they are British or Irish citizens or fall under specific exemptions.
Short-term visitors must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which costs £16.
However, dual nationals will no longer be able to rely on their non-British passport alone. Instead, they must either present a British passport or obtain a “certificate of entitlement”, a document costing £589 that must be attached to their foreign passport in order to board a flight, ferry, or train to the UK.
Several affected individuals have voiced frustration, saying the change has been poorly communicated and places an unfair financial burden on families.
Responding to the concerns, a Home Office spokesperson said:
From 25 February 2026, all dual British citizens will need to present either a valid British passport or a certificate of entitlement to avoid delays at the border.
The spokesperson added that the policy is part of a broader digitization effort aimed at streamlining travel while strengthening border security and immigration oversight.
Meanwhile, EU citizens’ rights group The 3 million has urged the government to reconsider the cost and complexity of the new requirement. The group called for a low-cost, one-time travel authorization similar to systems used in countries such as Canada.
“The UK already has the technology to do this,” said Monique Hawkins, head of policy and advocacy at The 3 million. “We urge the government to act swiftly to ensure British citizens are not effectively locked out of their own country.”
