New rules for dual nationals re-entering the UK are causing confusion for travellers and frustration for agents.
Some clients who are due to travel within the next few weeks are worried they might have to cancel because they don’t have the right documents to return to the UK.
Agents have expressed concerns that dual-national customers don’t have time to acquire the correct documentation before they travel.
What has changed for dual-nationals?
Entry rules for dual nationals have changed as part of an overhaul of the immigration system, which the Government claims will streamline and modernise the border process.
Under the previous system, a UK dual national could travel to the UK using a passport from another country, provided that visitors from that country don’t need a UK visa.
Since Wednesday (25 February) this is no longer allowed.
Instead, dual nationals must present either a valid British or Irish passport or a Certificate of Entitlement attached to their second (foreign) passport.
The problem is that nationals of another country who acquire British citizenship won’t automatically receive a Certificate of Entitlement, and they might never have applied for a British passport if they already have a passport from another country.
Which is quicker to obtain, a passport or a Certificate of Entitlement?
It costs £589 to acquire a Certificate of Entitlement, which takes several weeks to process, although the digital versions no longer expire and can be transferred to a new foreign passport when this is renewed.
It’s likely to be quicker – and cheaper – to apply for a British passport, which costs from £94.50, but first-time applications for dual nationals might take longer than the standard three weeks for applications from non-dual nationals due to the extra paperwork involved.
Also, those applying for a first passport are not eligible to use the Passport Office fast track service.
Can dual nationals apply for an ETA instead?
Travellers from foreign countries that don’t require a visa to enter the UK must have an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead, which costs £16 for multiple visits and lasts for two years, or until their passport expires.
However, British dual nationals are not eligible for an ETA, they must have a British or Irish passport or Certificate of Entitlement.
This also applies to foreigners who are British citizens by birth, such as those born in Australia to British parents. They can renounce their citizenship, but this costs £482 and takes several months. If they don’t, they must have a British passport or Certificate of Entitlement to enter the UK.
Frustration for agents
One agent posted in Travel Gossip’s Facebook group to say that a French dual-national client might lose their holiday to India in three weeks because of the time it could take to acquire a British passport or Certificate of Entitlement.
Another agent said they’d received several calls on the issue from worried clients who might be affected, and a couple of agents said they’d been asked to advise dual nationals overseas who were unsure if they could still travel to the UK on foreign passports or with an ETA.
Is there another solution?
It is up to airlines to check a passenger’s documentation before they board a flight, and some are allowing dual citizens to travel with an expired British passport as long as they have a valid foreign passport.
However, the Home Office said this is at the airline’s discretion, and it could still lead to delays for passengers when they arrive at the immigration desk.
