UK Passport Rules Change for Dual Nationals

- The rule change is linked to the UK's new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system. British citizens are not eligible to apply for an ETA, so those traveling on a non-British passport would not have the required electronic permission that airlines must now verify. - Previously, dual citizens could enter the UK using a valid non-British passport, a practice that is now ending. The Home Office says the new requirement aligns the UK with the border policies of other countries, including the United States and Australia, and will improve the accuracy of immigration records. - The alternative to a British passport, a "certificate of entitlement," costs £589 and must be affixed to a foreign passport. For comparison, applying for a new adult British passport online costs around £94.50. - Processing times for the certificate of entitlement can be lengthy, taking up to three weeks for overseas applications and up to eight weeks for those submitted within the UK. - Campaigners argue the new rule disproportionately affects women, particularly those from countries like Greece and Spain where different naming conventions can result in a mismatch between their British and foreign passports, creating bureaucratic hurdles. - An estimated 1.2 million British dual nationals living abroad are potentially affected by this policy change. Some have stated they are considering renouncing their British citizenship to avoid the new costs and administrative burden. - Irish citizens are exempt from the new requirements and can continue to travel to the UK on their Irish passports under the long-standing Common Travel Area arrangements.