Why dual British citizenship is in the news
Recent reports of British citizens being refused boarding when travelling to the UK on non-UK passports have brought dual nationality into focus.
The catalyst has been the rollout of the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system and the expectation that carriers verify travel permission or exemption before departure.
As pre-departure checks have become more consistently enforced, some dual nationals have encountered difficulty demonstrating their British status when boarding for UK-bound travel.
Home Office guidance has also been amended in light of the new rules, with concessions for some travellers. However, this has resulted in more complex rules on who needs to travel with which documents to avoid issues boarding and entering the UK.
Dual British citizens and UK border entry from 25 February 2026
The UK continues to allow dual nationality, and you are not required to renounce another citizenship when becoming British. the change in February 2026 concerned how British citizenship is evidenced and verified by carriers before travel to the UK.
Since 25 February 2026, carriers now have to check before departure whether you require permission to enter the UK. As a British or Irish citizen, you do not require permission. However, the carrier has to be able to recognise that exemption in its systems before allowing you to board.
Presenting a non-British passport alone is unlikely to be sufficient in most cases under the new rules, unless the individual falls within a recognised exception such as certain EU Settlement Scheme-based dual nationals. If you do only present a foreign passport, the carrier may not be able to identify your British status. In that situation, you could be delayed or refused boarding because you cannot demonstrate your British citizenship in a format the carrier recognises.
Exception for EU Settlement Scheme dual nationals
Following a change in Home Office guidance in mid March 2026, a limited exception now applies to some dual nationals who previously held status under the EU Settlement Scheme and later became British citizens. These individuals may be able to travel to the UK using a valid EU or EEA passport or national identity card, provided that document is correctly linked to their UKVI account.
The exception does not apply to all dual nationals and should not be treated as a general alternative to holding a British passport.
It does not apply to:
- Dual nationals who never held EU Settlement Scheme status
- Individuals who became British citizens before the EU Settlement Scheme existed
- Dual nationals whose other nationality is not from the EU, EEA or Switzerland
- Individuals relying on other forms of leave, including Windrush or indefinite leave to remain granted outside the EU Settlement Scheme
In these cases, carriers are unlikely to be able to verify British status without a British passport or Certificate of Entitlement.
Carrier systems and staff awareness may vary, and reliance on this concession does not remove the risk of boarding disruption in practice.
What dual British citizens now need for UK travel
In most cases, dual British citizens travelling to the UK should now carry either a valid British passport, or a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode, held digitally through a UKVI account and linked to a foreign passport.
An ETA is not an alternative option. British citizens are not eligible for ETAs, even if travelling on a non-UK passport.
A limited exception applies where an individual previously held EU Settlement Scheme status before naturalising as a British citizen. In these cases, it may be possible to travel using an EU or EEA passport or national identity card where that document is linked to the individual’s UKVI account. This relies on the Home Office’s digital status systems and is dependent on accurate record matching. If the travel document is not correctly linked, carriers may still be unable to verify status and boarding may be refused. This concession is separate from the EU Settlement Scheme-based concession described above.
In line with updated Home Office guidance, temporary transitional arrangements may apply. Carriers may allow travel where a dual British citizen holds both an expired UK passport issued in 1989 or later and a valid passport from an ETA-eligible nationality, provided the personal details on both documents match and an approved ETA is linked to the foreign passport.
Boarding under this concession is, however, at the carrier’s discretion. It does not create a guaranteed right to travel. Where travel is permitted on this basis, additional identity checks may take place on arrival before the individual proceeds through UK passport control. The concession is operational and transitional rather than a long-term alternative to holding a current British passport.
Certificates of Entitlement are issued digitally and are no longer physically vignette-based or tied permanently to a single passport. Status is managed through the UKVI account, which allows updated passport details to be linked without re-issuing a physical document. The Certificate evidences the Right of Abode and enables travel without a British passport, provided the status is correctly recorded and linked in the system.
For example, a British–French dual national living in London who travels to Paris for a weekend and attempts to return using a French passport alone may now be refused boarding unless they can show a valid British passport or recognised Certificate of Entitlement, unless they fall within the EU Settlement Scheme concession described above. A British–Belgian dual citizen who has worked in the UK for decades but never applied for a British passport may find that a Belgian passport alone does not trigger exemption recognition at boarding stage, unless they fall within the EU Settlement Scheme concession.
Practical steps for dual British citizens
Given the new rules, dual British citizens are advised to check their proof of citizenship before departure. Relying on previous travel experience or assuming that citizenship can be resolved on arrival carries increasing risk under a system designed to verify status before boarding.
If you are relying on your British citizenship to travel to the UK, the safest option in most cases is to hold and travel on a valid British passport.
If you previously held EU Settlement Scheme status before becoming a British citizen, you should check whether your current passport or identity document is correctly linked to your UKVI account. Where records are not aligned, carriers may not be able to verify your status.
If you do not hold a current British passport, you should consider whether a Certificate of Entitlement is appropriate and ensure your UKVI account reflects current passport details before travelling.
If you are planning to rely on the temporary Home Office concession, check that you meet the requirements. You will need an expired British passport issued in 1989 or later, and have a valid passport from an ETA-eligible nationality, and have an approved ETA linked to that foreign passport, with matching personal details. Remember also that boarding under this arrangement is at the carrier’s discretion and should not be treated as a long-term alternative to holding a valid British passport.
In any event, dual British citizens planning travel to the UK should review their documentation well in advance rather than assume exemption will be recognised automatically at the airport.
Employer considerations for business travel
Tighter border entry verification has operational implications for employers managing internationally mobile staff. The risks are no longer limited to visa nationals or sponsored workers. Most dual British citizens travelling for work may face disruption where proof of citizenship is not aligned with carrier systems, although a limited exception applies to certain EU Settlement Scheme-based dual nationals.
For example, a senior executive holding British and Canadian nationality who frequently travels on a Canadian passport may be refused boarding for a UK board meeting if British status cannot be evidenced in a recognised format. The commercial impact of missed meetings, delayed site visits or cancelled engagements can be immediate.
Travel disruption caused by documentation issues can also have unwanted, knock-on effects, including temporary changes to working arrangements that may then cause right to work compliance and client delivery problems.
Employers should review travel policies to ensure they address which passport employees are expected to use for UK travel and confirm that British passports are valid where required. Helpful, internal guidance reduces the likelihood of last-minute boarding refusals.
Employers should also identify whether travelling employees may be relying on EU Settlement Scheme-linked status and ensure travel guidance reflects the different documentation requirements that may apply.
DMS Perspective
While the UK rules on dual nationality have not changed, the way that status is evidenced now determines in most cases whether UK-bound boarding is permitted, with practical consequences for travellers and for employers managing international mobility.
Dual citizens who rely on their British citizenship for entry to the UK should ensure they hold documentation that carrier systems can recognise before departure. Recent Home Office guidance has introduced a limited exception for certain EU Settlement Scheme-based dual nationals, but this does not apply universally and really, it adds further complexity for travellers assessing what proof of status is required to board UK-bound travel.
Individuals concerned about document or status requirements should seek advice before travel or before considering any change to nationality status. Renunciation has wider implications which should be assessed before committing to this option.
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