UK Entry Rules for Dual Citizens: FAQs on Passports, ETA, and Boarding

The U.K. government has clarified how dual citizens must prove their right to enter the United Kingdom.

Under new updated guidance tied to the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) rollout, British citizens, including dual nationals, are not eligible for an ETA and must use specific documentation to travel.

If you’re asking, “Does this apply to me?” here are the answers based on official guidance.

I’m a British and U.S. citizen. Can I enter using my U.S. passport?

No.

According to GOV.UK guidance for dual citizens, British citizens must prove their permission to travel using one of the following:

• A valid British passport
• A valid Irish passport
• A valid passport containing a Certificate of Entitlement confirming right of abode

If you hold British citizenship, you cannot apply for an ETA, even if you also hold another nationality.

What Is “Permission to Travel”?

Under the ETA system, airlines and other carriers must check that passengers have valid permission to travel to the U.K. before boarding.

If you are a British citizen and do not present valid documentation proving your right of abode, you may be refused boarding.

This is a carrier compliance requirement, not a change to your citizenship status.

Does This Apply to Children?

Yes.

If your child is a British citizen, even if they also hold another nationality, the same documentation rule applies.

Common scenarios include:

• A child born in the U.K. who also holds U.S. citizenship
• A child registered as British but who typically travels on another passport
• A child with an expired British passport

Official guidance does not provide age-based exceptions. Parents should confirm documentation well before travel.

I Hold Both British and Irish Citizenship. Which Passport Can I Use?

You may enter using a valid Irish passport.

Irish citizens are not subject to the ETA requirement. Individuals who hold both British and Irish citizenship may travel using either a valid British passport or a valid Irish passport.

Can Dual Citizens Use an ETA Instead?

No.

The U.K. government’s ETA guidance explicitly states that British citizens, including dual nationals, are not eligible to apply for an ETA.

Attempting to rely on an ETA approval in place of required documentation could result in boarding refusal.

What Is a Certificate of Entitlement?

A Certificate of Entitlement confirms a person’s right of abode in the U.K. and can be used instead of a British passport to prove permission to travel.

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It is designed for British citizens who:

• Do not have a valid British passport, and
• Need alternative proof of right of abode

The certificate is linked to a valid foreign passport.

As of February 26, 2026, Certificates of Entitlement are issued in digital form. Unlike older physical vignette versions, the digital Certificate of Entitlement does not expire when the linked passport expires. However, it must remain linked to a valid passport for travel.

Processing times can still take several weeks. For most travelers, renewing a British passport may be simpler and less expensive.

What If My British Passport Is Expired?

Official guidance refers to a valid British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement as proof of permission to travel. However, the Home Office has introduced a temporary transitional measure.

Under this guidance, carriers may allow travel if a dual British citizen presents:

• An expired British passport issued in 1989 or later, and
• A valid passport from an ETA-eligible country,
• With matching personal details across both documents.

This is a temporary measure and remains subject to carrier discretion. Travelers who do not meet these criteria, or whose documents do not clearly match, may still be refused boarding.

The safest option remains traveling with a valid British passport or Certificate of Entitlement.

What Dual Citizens Should Do Now

If you hold British citizenship and plan to travel:

1. Confirm whether you hold British citizenship (including children).
2. Check passport validity well in advance.
3. Renew expired passports early.
4. Do not rely on being able to apply for an ETA.
5. Build extra time into upcoming travel plans.

This rule affects documentation, not citizenship. But documentation is what airlines enforce.

What Employers and Mobility Teams Should Do

Companies with globally mobile staff should review travel planning processes now.

Practical steps:

• Identify employees who hold dual British citizenship.
• Verify passport validity for 2026 travel.
• Update internal travel guidance to clarify ETA ineligibility for British citizens.
• Alert travel coordinators and executive assistants.
• Build buffer time into international travel schedules.

An employee denied boarding can disrupt meetings, work authorization compliance, payroll tracking, and client commitments.

For mobility teams, this is a documentation compliance issue, not a policy debate.

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