Why do British dual citizens need a UK passport to enter the country starting February 2026?

The UK is moving to a digital border system. Airlines will check for a British passport or a special certificate before you board. If you only have a foreign passport, the system will not let you fly to the UK.

How much does the Certificate of Entitlement cost for UK dual nationals in 2026?

The Certificate of Entitlement costs £589. This is a sticker for your foreign passport that proves you have the right to live in the UK. It is much more expensive than a standard British passport which costs £88.50.

What happens if the name on my foreign passport does not match my British passport?

You might have trouble getting your travel documents. The UK government requires names to match exactly on all IDs. This is a big problem for people from Spain or Greece who use different naming rules for marriage or family.

Can British dual citizens apply for the new £16 Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)?

No, British citizens cannot get an ETA because it is only for people who do not have a right to live in the UK. Dual citizens must use a British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement instead.

When is the deadline for dual citizens to get a British passport for travel?

The new rules start on February 25, 2026. After this date, transport companies like airlines and ferries will stop you from traveling if you do not have the correct British documents.

UK Dual Citizens Must Use British Passports by February 2026 to Avoid Travel Bans

The United Kingdom is changing how people with dual citizenship enter the country. Starting in February 2026, those who hold both a British passport and a passport from another country will no longer be able to use their foreign documents alone to enter the UK. This change is part of a new digital system called the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). For many years, these travelers could show an old British passport or a citizenship letter at the border. Now, they must have specific, valid British documents before they even get on a plane or boat. The rush to get these papers is causing stress for many families living abroad.

"British dual nationals will need a valid British passport to enter the UK under new ETA rules starting February 2026." — Industry Report

A Shift in Border Rules

The UK government is moving toward a fully digital border. Under the old way, a dual citizen from a country that does not need a visa (like Spain or Latvia) could fly to the UK using their non-British passport. If the border officer asked questions, they could show proof of their right to live in the UK.

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The Deadline: Full enforcement begins on February 25, 2026.
The Change: Travelers must now prove their British status to the airline or transport company before they leave.
The Conflict: Dual citizens cannot apply for an ETA because that system is only for non-citizens. This creates a "loop" where they must have British-specific ID to travel.

Evidence of Travel Requirements

Document Type	Cost	Who is it for?	Key Benefit
British Passport	£88.50	British Citizens	Simplest way to prove right of abode.
Certificate of Entitlement (COE)	£589	Dual Citizens	Added to a foreign passport to prove UK rights.
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)	£16	Non-British/Irish	Not available for British citizens.

The core issue is that travelers who do not have a valid UK passport may be refused boarding by airlines who cannot verify their citizenship through the new digital system.

Problems with Name Matching

Campaigners and travelers have pointed out a significant problem for women and people from certain European countries. In Spain, many citizens carry two surnames (mother’s and father’s), but their British passport might only show one. In Greece, women are often required by law to keep their maiden name after marriage, while their UK passport might use their husband’s name.

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British rules require names to match exactly on all documents.
If the names do not match, the traveler may not be able to get a UK passport or a Certificate of Entitlement.
This could leave some people "stuck" between two sets of national laws.

The Cost of Entitlement

While a standard British passport costs less than £100, many dual nationals are looking at the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) as an alternative. This is a sticker placed inside a foreign passport. However, the cost is much higher at £589. Some families with children born abroad are finding this cost very high, especially if they have multiple children who all need proof of citizenship to visit family in the UK.

Challenges for Families Abroad

Experts in travel risk and mobility are now warning parents. Children born to British parents in other countries often have "latent" citizenship. This means they are citizens by law, but they might not have a UK passport yet.

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Previously, these children traveled on their local foreign passport.
Now, they will face the same boarding denials as adults if they do not have British paperwork.
Some people are finding the application process difficult because it requires sending away their only valid ID (their foreign passport) for many weeks, making it impossible for them to travel or work during that time.

Expert Analysis

The British High Commission has stated that these rules are not unusual. They point out that countries like the United States and Canada already require their citizens to use a national passport to enter. They argue that this system makes the borders more secure.

However, travel consultants from VisaHQ note that the "rush" for documents is creating a backlog. They suggest that anyone traveling after February 2026 should check their papers immediately. Campaigners told The Guardian that the rules might be "discriminatory" because they affect women and specific cultures more than others due to naming traditions.

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Conclusion

The investigation into the new UK border rules shows a clear move toward strict digital verification. The days of using a foreign passport plus a paper citizenship certificate are ending.

Main Findings:

Dual citizens must have a valid British passport or a £589 Certificate of Entitlement by February 25, 2026.
The ETA system is not an option for British citizens, meaning there is no "cheap" or "quick" digital fix for those without passports.
Name differences between countries are a major barrier for women in places like Spain and Greece.

Next Steps for Travelers:Those affected should verify if the names on their two passports match perfectly. If they do not, they may need to seek legal advice or start the correction process early to avoid being barred from travel in 2026.

Sources Used

BBC News: How are UK passport rules changing for British dual nationals? (Context on the ETA system and personal impact).
International Business Times: UK Tightens Passport Rules for Dual Nationals by 2026 (Details on the February 25 deadline).
i News: How British citizens could be barred from the UK under strict new passport rules (Analysis of boarding denials and document requirements).
The Guardian: New UK border rules for dual nationals are discriminatory against women, campaigners say (Focus on name-match issues in Spain and Greece).
VisaHQ: New UK passport rules leave dual citizens rushing for certificates of entitlement (Information on the £589 COE and child citizenship).
SS Studios: U.K. Dual Citizenship Explained 2026 (Comparison of costs and pathways).
Secret London: These Are The UK’s New Dual Citizenship Passport Rules For 2026 Explained (Clarification on dual citizenship status and the ETA).