What are the new rules for British dual nationals travelling to the UK?

From February 25, there will be new rules for British dual nationals travelling to the UK. There has been some confusion as to what the new rules are. Here’s what you need to know:

UK ETA tolerance period ends on February 25

There is currently some confusion as to which travel documents UK dual nationals will soon need to show to enter the UK. To understand the situation, we need to wind back a few months.

Since April 2, 2025, anyone travelling from the EU to the UK has needed an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), unless they are travelling on a valid UK or Irish passport. Since the new policy was introduced, there has been a “transitional tolerance period”. 

This “transitional tolerance period” will end on February 25, 2026. Ahead of the tolerance period ending, the UK government announced that UK dual nationals would only be able to enter the UK with a valid UK passport or a “certificate of entitlement”, which costs 589 pounds (around 675 euros).

If you have British and German citizenship, for example, you could only enter the UK using your valid UK passport, and not your German passport alone. The UK government explained that UK citizens travelling on another EU passport may be refused entry.

This creates problems for people who are UK citizens but might not have a valid UK passport because they have been living outside the UK for a long time. Previously, these people were able to use their EU passports to enter the UK, because their EU passports didn’t require a visa.

Backlash prompts flexibility from airlines and UK gov’t

Since the Home Office announced the new rules, many UK dual nationals have dismissed the requirements as a scheme to make UK citizens fork out the 108 pounds (124 euros) it costs to get a new UK passport.

The rules have prompted widespread backlash, and as such, the Home Office has since changed its travel advice for UK dual nationals multiple times.

Part of the problem is that, legally, unlike US citizens, who are obliged to show their US passport when entering the US, UK citizens are not legally required to show a UK passport when entering the UK. So the Home Office cannot demand they do.

However, airlines are unlikely to let UK citizens travel visa-free to the UK without proof of their citizenship (e.g. a UK passport or certificate of entitlement) because they can be “penalised for bringing inadequately documented passengers to the UK”, according to a House of Commons briefing.

The answer remains to be seen

In the latest update, the Home Office has said, “At their own discretion, carriers can accept an expired British passport as alternative documentation. Separately, individuals who have previously had a British passport can apply for an emergency travel document if they urgently need to enter the UK.”

"In line with current practice, on arrival at the UK border, Border Force will still assess a person’s suitability to enter the UK and conduct additional checks if required.”

Irish budget airline Ryanair has since said that it will “allow a passenger to board a flight to the UK if we are satisfied that the passenger is a British national, an Irish national or is in possession of any other status in the UK, including passengers who hold an old stamp/vignette with indefinite leave to remain".

However, according to the Home Office advice, UK citizens without a valid UK passport who are travelling with other airlines or modes of transport do so “at their own discretion”. Only after February 25 is it likely to become clearer what the consensus is among airlines and border control.