The United Kingdom is set to enforce new passport and entry rules for dual citizens beginning in 2026, a move that will affect millions of British nationals living abroad.
The changes are tied to the rollout of the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system and will significantly alter how British and Irish dual nationals enter the country.
Here are the key things travellers need to know ahead of the new policy:
1. The rules take effect on February 25, 2026
From this date, new entry requirements for British and Irish dual citizens will be fully enforced by the UK Home Office.
2. Dual citizens must use a British or Irish passport to enter the UK
British and Irish dual nationals will no longer be allowed to enter the UK using only a foreign passport.
3. Foreign passports will require a Certificate of Entitlement
Dual nationals travelling on a non-UK passport must carry a paid Certificate of Entitlement confirming their right of abode.
4. The changes are linked to the UK’s ETA system
The policy is part of the broader Electronic Travel Authorisation rollout, similar to the US ESTA programme.
5. The ETA costs £16 and is valid for two years
The digital permit applies to visa-free travellers entering the UK for short stays.
6. Dual citizens are not eligible for an ETA
UK government guidance states that British and Irish dual nationals cannot apply for an ETA.
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7. This creates a conflict for dual nationals using foreign passports
Because they cannot obtain an ETA, dual citizens must instead prove British or Irish nationality at entry.
8. The policy affects citizens of many visa-free countries
This includes nationals of the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the EU, and Schengen states.
9. Visitors from these countries can stay up to six months
ETA holders may visit the UK for tourism, business, or short-term work.
10. Current entry rules remain valid until the 2026 deadline
Dual nationals may continue entering the UK on foreign passports without an ETA until February 25, 2026.
11. Those already in the UK before the deadline are unaffected
Travellers who enter before the enforcement date can stay beyond it without applying for an ETA.
12. Problems arise for dual nationals without a British passport
Individuals who do not hold proof of British citizenship risk being denied boarding or refused entry.
13. Overseas-born Britons may need to register their citizenship
Those born abroad to British parents who have never held a UK passport must register and obtain one before travelling.
14. The Certificate of Entitlement is costly
The document costs £589 and must be renewed each time the passport it is linked to expires.
15. Dual citizenship status remains unchanged
The UK government has confirmed that the rules do not affect the legal right of dual nationals to live and work in the UK, as they apply only to entry and passport requirements.
