UK New Travel System Explained and Dual Nationals Impact

Published: 25 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

The United Kingdom has implemented a major overhaul of its border entry rules, fundamentally changing how travellers gain permission to visit the country. From 25 February 2026, the UK’s new digital travel system came into full force, affecting millions of visitors and sparking confusion among those with multiple nationalities. The changes centre on a mandatory requirement for travellers from visa-exempt countries to secure an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before departure, and on stricter documentary requirements for British citizens who also hold another nationality.

At the core of the new system is the UK’s ETA, akin to systems already in place in countries such as the United States and soon the European Union. An ETA is a digital permission to travel — not a visa — required from visitors who do not otherwise need a visa for short stays of up to six months. The ETA must be obtained online in advance of travel and costs £16, with validity for multiple journeys over two years or until the passport with which it is linked expires. Airlines and other carriers are now required to check that passengers have a valid ETA before allowing them to board flights, ferries or trains bound for the UK. Travellers without the necessary digital authorisation risk being denied boarding.

The UK government frames this shift as part of a broader push to digitise and strengthen border security. According to officials, the ETA scheme will make the process of screening visitors more efficient and secure, reducing the risk of unauthorised entry and improving the accuracy of immigration checks. More than 19 million ETAs have already been issued since the system’s initial rollout in 2023, generating significant revenue that is reinvested into the immigration system.

Under the new rules, British and Irish citizens are exempt from the ETA requirement. However, this exemption has created challenges for dual nationals — British citizens who also hold another nationality. Historically, many British dual nationals could enter the UK using the passport of their other nationality, particularly if that passport belonged to a country that did not require visas for UK entry. In practice, this meant that someone who held both British and, for example, Australian citizenship often travelled on their Australian passport alone when returning to the UK. Effective 25 February, that practice is no longer permitted under the enforced digital regime.

British dual nationals must now present valid proof of their British citizenship when attempting to travel to the UK. In most cases this means using a current British passport at check-in and upon arrival. Alternatively, those who do not hold a British passport may apply for a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode to attach to their other nationality passport. The certificate serves as proof of the holder’s right to live and work in the UK, but it comes with a significantly higher cost — around £589 — and may take several weeks to process. Failure to present one of these documents can lead to denied boarding by carriers or refusal of entry at the UK border.

The requirement for dual nationals to use their British passport or a certificate reflects a strict interpretation of the digital travel system. Because British citizens are exempt from the ETA requirement, they cannot be processed as ETA holders using a foreign passport — the system instead requires documentary evidence of their British citizenship before travel. For newly naturalised individuals who have not yet received a British passport, or for British citizens who let their passport expire, this shift has caused particular concern. The government has advised affected travellers to ensure their documentation is in order well before departure.

The change has sparked an outcry among some British dual nationals abroad, many of whom only recently learned of the new requirements through media reports and social networks. Critics have argued that communication from the UK authorities was insufficient and that the cost and processing time of certificates of entitlement are unreasonable, particularly in cases of urgent travel for family or work commitments. Some dual nationals have reported having to cancel or postpone travel plans at short notice because they lacked the necessary documents.

In response to the backlash, the Home Office has indicated that carriers may, at their own discretion, accept expired British passports issued after 1989 as alternative proof of citizenship, if travellers also hold a valid passport eligible for an ETA. However, this remains a temporary accommodation subject to carrier policies rather than a formal legal exemption. Travellers are still urged to use a valid British passport or certificate to avoid complications.

For the majority of international visitors — citizens of countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and EU member states — the new ETA system represents a clear pre-departure requirement that must be satisfied before travel. But for dual nationals with ties to the UK, the rules represent a profound shift in practice. Ensuring the correct documentation is essential to avoid denied boarding and disruption at the border.

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