Overview
- From 25 February 2026, dual British citizens must present a valid UK passport or a certificate of entitlement when entering the UK or risk delays or refusal.
- Travellers who arrive on or before 24 February 2026 may still use an ETA‑eligible foreign passport to travel to the UK without an ETA or a certificate.
- Airlines, ferries and Eurostar are expected to deny boarding to those who cannot show the required documents, following guidance that can expose carriers to fines of up to £2,000 for inadequately documented passengers.
- The practical options are a UK passport (about £94.50 in the UK, typically higher and slower from abroad) or a certificate of entitlement (about £589), with a £125 emergency travel document available for a single trip if time is short.
- Irish passport holders remain exempt from ETA requirements, and carriers are unlikely to accept expired UK passports or naturalisation certificates as alternatives for dual nationals.