‘An Unnecessary Barrier’: Dual Nationals Criticise New UK Passport Requirements

From 25 February 2026, British dual nationals will no longer be permitted to enter the United Kingdom using a non-British passport alone. The change, confirmed by the Home Office, introduces a mandatory documentation requirement that will affect hundreds of thousands of British citizens living overseas.

While the government maintains that the measure aligns the UK with comparable countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia, many affected individuals argue that the policy imposes an unnecessary financial and administrative burden on those with an unquestionable right of abode.

This article examines the new rules in detail and explores the reaction they have provoked among British nationals abroad.

Under the updated requirements, all British citizens who hold dual nationality must present one of the following documents when travelling to the UK:

• A valid British passport; or
• A Certificate of Entitlement

Dual nationals will no longer be able to rely solely on their non-British passport when boarding a flight, ferry or train to the UK. Carriers will be required to verify British citizenship through approved documentation before allowing travel.

According to the Home Office:

“From 25 February 2026, all dual British citizens will need to present either a valid British passport or Certificate of Entitlement when travelling to the UK. Without one, carriers cannot verify that they are a British citizen, which may lead to delays or refused boarding.”

For those who do not hold a valid British passport, the alternative is a Certificate of Entitlement.

Key features include:

• Application process: Online submission via the UK government website.
• Processing time: Typically up to eight weeks.
• Fee: £589 for applications made in the UK.
• Format: A digital certificate stored within a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account, replacing the previous vignette sticker system.
• Expiry considerations: If the linked passport expires, a fresh certificate application is required.

UK Home Office has framed the change as an operational necessity. Carriers, it argues, cannot reliably identify British citizens without standardised documentation. Requiring a British passport or Certificate of Entitlement ensures clarity at the border and reduces the risk of incorrect refusals or delays.

However, critics question whether comparison with larger immigration systems justifies the financial impact placed on British nationals who may have lived abroad for decades and previously travelled without difficulty.

The announcement has prompted significant backlash from British citizens residing overseas, particularly those who have not maintained a current British passport.

Many argue that the requirement effectively places a price on exercising their right of entry.

Some elderly nationals have reported difficulty gathering documentary evidence required for first-time or renewed passport applications. Individuals who have not held a British passport for many years may be required to produce long-form birth certificates, marriage certificates and additional documentation.

For older applicants, particularly those whose personal records are incomplete or held overseas, the process can be complex and time-consuming.

The £589 fee for a Certificate of Entitlement has drawn particular criticism. For families, the cumulative cost can be substantial.

One dual national residing in France calculated that securing documentation for himself and his daughter would exceed £1,000. He has suggested that renouncing British citizenship may be the only viable alternative.

Others have described the requirement as disproportionate, especially when compared with the modest £16 ETA fee imposed on foreign visitors entering for tourism.

Beyond cost and bureaucracy, many express a sense of exclusion. Some lifelong British nationals who emigrated decades ago say they feel “shut out” of their own country.

For those planning what may be a final visit to the UK to reconnect with family or revisit childhood homes, the requirement has been described as both disheartening and unnecessary.

British citizenship gives a person the right to enter and reside in the United Kingdom. The new rules do not remove that right; rather, they regulate how it must be evidenced for travel purposes.

Nevertheless, critics argue that requiring payment to demonstrate an inherent status amounts to a de facto barrier, particularly for those on fixed incomes.

Supporters of the change counter that documentation requirements are routine in international travel and that maintaining a valid passport is a reasonable expectation of citizenship.

Dual British citizens living overseas should consider:

• Checking the validity of any existing British passport.
• Reviewing eligibility and requirements for a Certificate of Entitlement if a passport application is not feasible.
• Allowing sufficient time before travel, given processing periods.
• Ensuring their UKVI account details are accurate if holding or applying for digital status.

With the implementation date approaching, early preparation may reduce the risk of travel disruption.

The new entry requirements mark a significant shift in how British dual nationals access their country of citizenship. While presented as an administrative alignment with international practice, the financial and practical implications have prompted strong reactions among those affected.

Whether the policy ultimately strengthens border clarity or deepens the divide between Britain and its diaspora remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that from February 2026, dual citizenship will carry new procedural obligations and for some, a difficult decision about their ongoing connection to the United Kingdom.

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