Entering the UK- or going to happen now

I thought personal attacks on posters was against GN guidelines?

This is an exhausting thread!
Several of us have tried to explain the new rules - but maybe not everyone is reading the whole thing!

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rosie51

Allira from the link Graphite posted

A British dual national travelling on a foreign passport is not supposed to use any of those. They would be ineligible for an ETA, eVisa or immigration permission due to their British citizenship.

Surely that means she can't just travel on the Australian passport with an ETA. My son has dual British/Canadian citizenship so I assume the same would apply to him. I'm thoroughly confused..........

I read a government link and it didn't say that, so it is very confusing.

That sounds quite ridiculous and designed to cause confusion.

I am looking at UK government information which is dated January 2026 which explain the strict enforcement of the regulations from 26 February 2026 for people who have dual citizenship - British and another country.

The graphic is from an Australian travel site:

www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/united-kingdom

So those with dual nationality are to be penalised as they cannot use an ETA plus Australian passport to come here but an Australian can.
I thought I understood it, but no, it is so ridiculous it surely cannot be true.
Who thinks up this red tape and 🐂💩

It is beyond ridiculous.

Every major international flight now begins with a computer checking for a digital "permission to travel" record linked to your passport number.

If you are British and coming to the UK you now need to use a UK passport UNLESS you have obtained the passport stamp/sticker in your Australian passport that Graphite tells us about.

I understand it's more expensive than a second passport.
It's called a Certificate of Entitlement and proves your "Right of Abode" in the UK.
The final option is to give up your "Right of Abode in the UK" - the UK currently charges £372 to renounce British citizenship (at an embassy, in person).

I honestly don't think it's really very complicated!
🤷

Rosie51

I thought personal attacks on posters was against GN guidelines?

Nobody is attacking anybody- 🥄 - just don't.

^I understand it's more expensive than a second passport.
It's called a Certificate of Entitlement and proves your "Right of Abode" in the UK.^
The final option is to give up your "Right of Abode in the UK" - the UK currently charges £372 to renounce British citizenship (at an embassy, in person).

But why?

Most of those with dual nationality want to come for a holiday, visit family, perhaps elderly parents, not right to abode. They are being penalised.

Why should they give up their British citizenship? They might want to come back to live here for some reason.

It seems like someone used a sledgehammer to crack a nut, or hit the wrong nut.

I can see why nanna8 is so annoyed.

Graphite

I am looking at UK government information which is dated January 2026 which explain the strict enforcement of the regulations from 26 February 2026 for people who have dual citizenship - British and another country.

The graphic is from an Australian travel site:

www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/united-kingdom

After reading that, why would anyone want to visit!!
😲

An ETA (broadly equivalent to the ESTA needed for the USA) is simply a document which allows you to travel. It is for conducting security checks before you arrive. On arrival, final entry permission still has to be granted by border officials. An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK. I said that upthread.

British citizens do not need an ETA because they hold an automatic right of abode in the UK. As citizens, they are exempt from immigration control and do not require permission to enter,

Dual British citizens also have a legal right of abode and can enter the UK, but from 25 February 2026, they do not have an automatic right of entry without specific documentation. They must present a valid British passport, Irish passport, or a foreign passport with a certificate of entitlement.

A certificate of entitlement is not the same an an ETA. The former confers right of abode. It serves as formal proof of the right of abode for individuals who do not hold a British passport but have the legal right to live/work in the UK.

Eligibility is for Commonwealth citizens who met specific criteria before 1983 (e.g., parent born in the UK) or for British subjects. It is issued by the Home Office (Form ROA) and currently costs £550.

The policy was designed by the previous government bring UK border procedures in line with similar, existing systems in the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-and-borders-bill-electronic-travel-authorisation-factsheet/nationality-and-borders-bill-electronic-travel-authorisation-factsheet

That’s very well clarified Grafite
So Nana8 blame Johnson if you have to blame anyone but that said tongue in cheek as it had to happen I suppose whoever was in government We had to catch up with the rest of the world

Allira

^I understand it's more expensive than a second passport.
It's called a Certificate of Entitlement and proves your "Right of Abode" in the UK.^
The final option is to give up your "Right of Abode in the UK" - the UK currently charges £372 to renounce British citizenship (at an embassy, in person).

But why?

Most of those with dual nationality want to come for a holiday, visit family, perhaps elderly parents, not right to abode. They are being penalised.

Why should they give up their British citizenship? They might want to come back to live here for some reason.

It seems like someone used a sledgehammer to crack a nut, or hit the wrong nut.

I can see why nanna8 is so annoyed.

Because if you come with British citizenship you can stay and work and are entitled to all the benefits of being a British Citizen.

So just like any other British Citizen who comes in from abroad you have to prove at Immigration that you are British.

It stands to reason you can’t prove that with an Australian passport.

It really isn’t any different to me having to show my British passport when I come back, is it?

Except that I only pay for one passport. But that’s a choice. If you want two citizenships you pay for two passports. It seems obvious to me.

Because if you come with British citizenship you can stay and work and are entitled to all the benefits of being a British Citizen.

Well, that's a new one on me.

If any of my British family come to stay and need a GP they are entitled to emergency health care because the UK has a reciprocal arrangement with Australia. That is what we have been told. It is not because they are British citizens, they have to register as visitors.
They would not be entitled to benefits nor a pension unless they had paid the required NI for a SP.

As a largely irrelevant aside - I think most people who come to-and-fro between the UK and elsewhere (where they have a passport) will already have chosen to keep their UK passport current - simply for ease.

My son and daughter-in-law do this - also my friend's adult children, my neighbour and my nephew and his family.
In fact I can honestly say that I don't know anyone with dual nationality who hasn't got both passports.

Maybe it's historical with Australia?

BlueBelle

That’s very well clarified Grafite
So Nana8 blame Johnson if you have to blame anyone but that said tongue in cheek as it had to happen I suppose whoever was in government We had to catch up with the rest of the world

Yes, but it's successive governments, not just the Tories because about 40 other countries have been added by the present government.

They are all trying to show that they are controlling immigration 🤔

In fact I can honestly say that I don't know anyone with dual nationality who hasn't got both passports.
Unless their citizenship application and subsequent granting of such is current.

I read it was to differentiate between those people "visiting" (in Germany It's for 90 days or less - they scan your face and fingerprints) and those with the Right to Abode.

I don't know if 90 days is standard across the EU.

What do you mean "current" Allira please?

NotSpaghetti

What do you mean "current" Allira please?

Don't worry about it.
It's anecdotal.

RosiesMawagain

With all respect, why should someone who has CHOSEN to make their life in another country, not a temporary job move or fixed term contract, have any say whatsoever in the election of our government.
I can remember voices being raised in past years about expats in mainland Europe not having/having (can’t remember which) a say in the Brexit referendum.
I was born in Scotland but rightly had no say in either the devolution or independence referendums. (Referenda?)
MYOB is my response.

@#£%%

I was one of those. Live in Germany and at the time of the Brexit vote only had British nationality. there were over a million of us in Europe who did not have a vote. MYOB????????? It was very much our business!!!!!!!!

NotSpaghetti

This is an exhausting thread!
Several of us have tried to explain the new rules - but maybe not everyone is reading the whole thing!

@#£%%&

I agree. Several people have c!early explained the rules and given links to the relevant Government websites.

There is no need for further speculation.

If you have a British passport you must use it to enter the UK.

If you have British nationality but no valid passport then you need to

*renew your passport or
*get the more expensive Certificate of Entitlement

End of.

If you want to enter any country you need the documentation that country requires. I can't understand the fuss.

Nanna8 was correct in her information in the OP.