What are the new passport border rules for dual citizenship in 2026?

The UK still allows dual citizenship / dual nationality. This means you can be a British citizen and a citizen of another country at the same time. However, from 25 February 2026, as a British citizen with dual citizenship, you are required to use either a British passport or a foreign passport with a Certificate of Entitlement (Right of Abode) to enter the UK. Even though you are legally a British citizen, if you travel on your foreign passport alone, airlines may not allow you to board the flight to the UK.

Please note that British-Irish dual nationals are not affected by this change. As such, an Irish passport can still be used for unrestricted travel to the UK without an ETA.

The Home Office also sets out two exceptions:

Travel with an expired UK passport: the airline may allow you to travel if you have both an expired UK passport issued in 1989 or later, and a valid passport for one of the nationalities that can get an ETA, with matching personal details on both passports. It is the carrier’s decision whether to allow this. It is important to note that this is temporary and not guaranteed.
Travelling with another passport or national identity card: If you obtained British citizenship after settling in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), you may be able to travel to the UK using a valid passport of your other nationality or a national identity card from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland. Before you travel, you will need to check that your pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme is still valid, and update your UKVI account if your passport or identity card has changed.

Have questions about dual citizenship and entering the UK? Our immigration lawyers can help. Give us a call on 02037442797 or complete our enquiry form.

Can I apply for an ETA if I am a dual British citizen?

No, as a dual citizenship holder who is also a British citizen, you are not eligible for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). You already have the right to enter the UK, so an ETA does not apply to you. However, without a British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement, the system treats you as a non-British traveller. This means you may fail pre-departure checks carried out by airlines and be denied boarding before you even reach the UK.

What to do if I have dual citizenship without a British passport?

If you are a British citizen with dual nationality but you do not have a British passport, it is important to apply for a British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement before travelling. If you need to travel urgently to the UK and you are currently abroad, you may be eligible to apply for an Emergency Travel Document, provided you have previously had a British passport that was issued on or after 1 January 2006.

British passport application

It usually takes up to 3 weeks to get a British passport within the UK. It may take longer than 3 weeks if you are required to provide more information for the application. There are fast-track services available, including a 1-day premium service and a 1-week fast track, which enable you to get your passport more quickly. However, you cannot use the fast track service if you have never applied for a British passport before as an adult, as these services are for renewals only. It is important to note that turnaround times may be different if you are applying from another country.

The key requirement for a British passport application is that you must already be a British citizen or another type of British national. How you prove this depends on your situation. Generally, you may have British citizenship automatically if you were born in the UK or have a parent with British citizenship. However, depending on when you were born and your parents’ marital status, the reality can be more complex under the British Nationality Act 1981. For example, if someone was born between 1^st January 1983 and 1^st July 2006 to an unmarried British father and a foreign mother, they did not automatically acquire British citizenship at birth. However, following an amendment to the British Nationality Act 1981 that recognised unmarried fathers as ‘parents’ for nationality purposes from 1^st July 2006 onwards, individuals in this position can apply to register as a British citizen.

Check our article to understand more about British citizenship by Birth

British citizenship law can be complex. If you need assistance, contact our immigration lawyers by calling 02037442797 or completing our enquiry form.

Certificate of Entitlement application

A Certificate of Entitlement is proof that you have the Right of Abode in the UK, allowing you to live and work in the UK without immigration restrictions. Since 2026, certificates are issued in digital format and linked to your UKVI account, rather than being placed in your passport. You can use this digital record to prove your status, for example when travelling or starting a job. A digital certificate does not expire, so you do not need to reapply when your passport expires. Instead, you must update your UKVI account with your new passport details to keep your record valid.

To apply for a Certificate of Entitlement, you must already have the Right of Abode in the UK. All British citizens automatically have the Right of Abode, as do certain Commonwealth citizens who meet specific qualifying conditions. A Certificate of Entitlement is only needed if you do not hold a valid British passport and need to prove your status. You cannot apply for a certificate if you already have a valid British passport or an existing Certificate of Entitlement in another passport.

It currently costs £589 to apply for a Certificate of Entitlement, whether applying from inside or outside the UK. If you apply in the UK, you will usually receive a decision within 8 weeks of submitting your application and sending in your documents. If you apply from outside the UK, you will usually receive a decision within 3 weeks of attending an appointment at a visa application centre. To support your application, you will typically need to provide documents that establish your Right of Abode, depending on how you qualify, such as: