Changes to the way in which British nationals with a second nationality will be treated on entry to the UK, coming into force on 25 February 2026, have been the subject of significant media coverage.
This article seeks to demystify the position, and provide practical guidance to those the change impacts.
From 25 February 2026, UK Border Officials will take a stricter approach to the enforcement of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (‘ETA’) requirement for those visiting the UK. An ETA is required for all eligible ‘non-visa nationals’ visiting the UK. The Home Office has stated that without an ETA, eligible nationals will not be able to travel to the UK.
British citizens, who also hold a second nationality, are not eligible for an ETA, regardless of whether their second nationality would qualify. This is because all British citizens have a ‘right of abode’ in the UK, meaning they are entitled to live or work in the UK without immigration restrictions and should not be granted immigration permission, as they do not require it. They are expected to enter the UK using a document that proves this right of abode. This is usually a British passport but can also be another passport endorsed with a Certificate of Entitlement (a ‘COE’) linked to their non-British passport.
For clarity, the stricter enforcement of the ETA requirement does not technically change the position of dual-national British citizens, who have always been expected to prove their right of abode at the border. A collateral effect, however, is that airlines carrying out pre-departure checks on dual-national British citizens, as well as Immigration Officers at the UK border, are expected to simultaneously take a stricter approach to this requirement. The ability of dual-national British citizens to board flights and enter the UK using their non-British passports (which was never technically permissible, but in reality frequently occurred) will be further restricted. This is because of the additional requirement of an ETA in a non-visa national passport, for which a British citizen who also holds a second nationality is ineligible.
As Irish citizens are considered “Settled” persons in the UK, they are also free from immigration control and are not able to obtain an ETA. They are expected to demonstrate their permission to enter the UK using a valid Irish passport.
To avoid being refused boarding or experiencing a delay at the UK border, dual national British citizens should apply for a British passport or a COE before they travel. A COE is an alternative to a British passport and was previously a physical vignette affixed to the applicant’s foreign passport. However, applicants approved after 25 February 2026 will be issued with a digital certificate.
Whether to apply for a British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement will depend on the applicant’s current location and travel plans, as each option involves different processing times and costs.
If the dual-national British citizen needs to travel urgently, and has not yet received either a British passport or a COE, we recommend preparing a set of documents evidencing their British citizenship. Our Immigration Team can assist by advising on the evidence required and by providing a letter confirming the dual-citizen’s status, with reference to the relevant legislation. This can be presented should they be questioned by a Border Official.
On 20 February 2026 the Home Office published updated online guidance stating that dual-national British citizens travelling on or after 25 February 2026 may be permitted by carriers to travel if they have both:
The updated guidance makes clear that it is ultimately the carrier’s decision whether to allow the dual-citizen to travel and that dual-citizens travelling with the above documents will need to have ‘additional identity checks’ to verify their citizenship before they can go through UK passport control. The form of the ‘additional identity checks’ is unclear, however, as mentioned above it would be advisable for dual-citizens to travel with a prepared set of documents confirming their status to assist with any checks.
The Home Office states that carriers can exercise this discretion “In line with temporary guidance…” (emphasis added). Given the uncertainty of how long this discretion will last, and the risk that even with this documentation, the airline may refuse boarding, it is strongly advisable for dual citizens to apply for either a British passport or a COE as soon as possible.
For those who have had a British passport issued on or after 1 January 2006 and need to travel urgently it is also an option to apply for an emergency travel document.
Our Immigration Team can also assist with assessing whether an individual qualifies as a British citizen and will therefore need to obtain the requisite documentation. We can also provide advice on a timeline.
If you have any questions and would like advice on your British nationality position, please contact the Boodle Hatfield Immigration Team, who will be able to advise.
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