UK ETA Rules for Dual Nationals: Everything You Need to Know in 2026

A New Era for British Dual Nationals

If you hold both a British passport and one from another country, the rules for entering the UK have changed dramatically. Since 25 February 2026, British dual nationals can no longer use their foreign passport to enter or exit the UK. This affects an estimated 1.2 million people who hold dual nationality and live abroad.

Photo by Vladimir Srajber on Pexels

What the Rules Require

The Home Office now says British citizens who are also citizens of a second country must travel to the UK using either:

• A valid British passport, or
• A certificate showing right of abode (attached to their foreign passport)

The core problem is simple but significant: the UK's electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system cannot distinguish between a foreign national visiting for six months and a British citizen who happens to have entered on a foreign passport. The ETA was designed to provide a clearer picture of who intends to travel to the UK for short periods.

Critically, you cannot get an ETA if you are a British or Irish dual citizen.

The Practical Problem

British people living abroad who have only a foreign passport and no proof of UK citizenship now face a situation where they have no legal way to show they are entitled to enter the UK. Airlines and shipping operators could deny them boarding.

Photo by Vlada Karpovich on Pexels

Your Options

Option 1: Get a British Passport

The most straightforward solution. The cost is 94.50 pounds, with an estimated processing time of three weeks in the UK. For British citizens living abroad, the process takes longer.

Option 2: Certificate of Entitlement

A certificate showing right of abode can be attached to your foreign passport. The cost is a steep 589 pounds. Search online for "Form ROA" to begin the process.

Option 3: The Expired Passport Workaround

At the eleventh hour, the Home Office announced that airlines could accept, at their discretion, an expired British passport issued any time since 1989 along with a valid foreign passport -- as long as the biographical details (full name, date and place of birth) match exactly.

Airlines confirmed to accept this arrangement include British Airways, easyJet, Lufthansa, Qantas, United, and Virgin Atlantic. Wizz Air has indicated they will assess each case individually. Air New Zealand is reported not to accept the combination.

Photo by Joerg Mangelsen on Pexels

Option 4: Renounce British Citizenship

An extreme measure that takes weeks and costs 482 pounds.

Option 5: Emergency Travel Document

For urgent travel, you can apply for an emergency travel document costing 125 pounds, valid for a single trip to the UK.

The Dublin Dodge

Perhaps the most creative solution, the "Dublin Dodge" offers a backdoor for British dual nationals who have only a foreign passport. The route exploits the Common Travel Area between Ireland and the UK.

Here is how it works:

1. Fly to the Republic of Ireland using your EU or foreign passport
2. Take a bus from Dublin airport to Belfast (runs three times per hour, approximately two hours)
3. Cross the Ireland-Northern Ireland border, where there are no frontier checks under the Good Friday Agreement
4. Once in Belfast, travel onward to Great Britain by ferry or air

Photo by Jari Volpato on Pexels

For those heading to Wales or much of England, an even simpler alternative exists: take a ferry from Dublin port to Holyhead. Irish Ferries accepts a wide range of photographic ID.

On the return journey, simply use your foreign passport to prove you will be accepted at your destination.

What About British Citizens by Descent?

This is where things get complicated. Anyone who has British nationality through ancestry must technically declare the fact and obtain a passport or certificate before travelling to the UK.

The same applies to people with Irish citizenship who may not even realise they have a claim to British nationality.

In practice, most such travellers will likely apply for an ETA without issues. But there is no guarantee -- and providing false information on an ETA application carries risks.

Photo by Sonia Nadales on Unsplash

What About Irish-British Dual Nationals?

If you hold both Irish and British citizenship, you are in the most fortunate position of all. You can travel freely between the UK, the EU, and the wider Schengen area with no need for further documentation -- either now or in the future when the Etias permit becomes compulsory.

Leaving the UK

There are no passport checks when departing the UK. Your airline or ferry company will want to know you are entitled to travel to your destination. Use your foreign passport for this purpose -- not your British one, which could create complications.

Some airlines allow you to specify your travel document when checking in. Others may require a phone call or online chat to update your document details.

Key Takeaway

The message is clear: if you are a British dual national living abroad, get a UK passport before your next trip home. The workarounds exist, but they add complexity, cost, and uncertainty to what should be a simple journey.