Can British citizens travel to the UK using a non-British passport?

[kiplette]

I happened to read this thread on Friday 9th Jan

Well that's brilliant. Good to hear it was all so easy, and quick!

Having been faffing about with all of this with kid#3, we 've checked everyone's passports and kid#2 is now out of date as well, so we'll sort that before it gets messy.
A couple of questions if you don't mind - how did you do your photo? Via a photographer, or machine, or yourself, or...?
And also the colour copies - literally copies from a copy place, or can you just take photos/scans and enter them electronically?

[alma.freya]

I happened to read this thread on Friday 9th Jan

Well that's brilliant. Good to hear it was all so easy, and quick!

Having been faffing about with all of this with kid#3, we 've checked everyone's passports and kid#2 is now out of date as well, so we'll sort that before it gets messy.
A couple of questions if you don't mind - how did you do your photo? Via a photographer, or machine, or yourself, or...?
And also the colour copies - literally copies from a copy place, or can you just take photos/scans and enter them electronically?

A friend took my photo with her phone, following the instructions on the application website. The photo is evaluated when you upload it during the application and they'll immediately inform you if the photo is considered "good" or "poor".

There was no option to upload a digital copy of the passport during the application. I scanned each page of the passport with Adobe Scan which creates a PDF, then colour printed the PDF double sided 4 pages per sheet of paper and included the printed pages in the envelope with the passport.

[Andy P]

A friend took my photo with her phone, following the instructions on the application website. The photo is evaluated when you upload it during the application and they'll immediately inform you if the photo is considered "good" or "poor".

There was no option to upload a digital copy of the passport during the application. I scanned each page of the passport with Adobe Scan which creates a PDF, then colour printed the PDF double sided 4 pages per sheet of paper and included the printed pages in the envelope with the passport.

It was similar for me. My wife took my photo on my smsrtphone, which was accepted by the software, though I'm aware from previous experience that it can be quite "fussy" about acceptance.

I used the copy function on my printer, and putting the printed side back in the printer in the right position to copy the next page, to create 2 pages per sheet, and then I posted the whole lot off.

The passport then came quite quickly.

[dstanners]

Thanks for the update. Seems as though getting a passport from Germany is less hassle than I imagined.
Did you include copies of all pages of the passport i.e. even those which were blank (for my kids that would be all of them)?

[Andy P]

Thanks for the update. Seems as though getting a passport from Germany is less hassle than I imagined.
Did you include copies of all pages of the passport i.e. even those which were blank (for my kids that would be all of them)?

Yes, that's the requirement, and my German passport is all blank ... for me it was a boring time at the printer, as well as having to concentrate that the paper was in the right position to print two pages on a side.

[Cloud9]

I got my husband to take my photo as I was trying to get it done quickly. The website tells you if the photo is good enough - our first attempt wasn't! Take it in good natural light (which was hard at gone 3pm!). You have to avoid shadows!

You have to post your old passport and the photocopy/printout of the German one - can't upload. I used a copyshop. Every single Page (ie 2 at a time as the passport is open flat on the copier), plus the front & back just in case. DHL express was €63 (gulp it did hurt). I would not brother with express if you have time. Passport office used DHL express to send it back. Supposed to be signed for ... it was just posted in my letterbox, didn't even ring our doorbell! The cancelled passport and colour photocopy arrived the next day

[kiplette]

Thank you very much for all the tips. The copying is a pain. Hey ho.

[alma.freya]

My new passport arrived in my mailbox today, 1 week after the HMPO received my documents.

Screenshot_20260130_175612_Firefox.jpg (179.49 KiB) Viewed 146 times

[bethannbitt]

On this topic: I’m not British of course, but I just read this in the Guardian and thought it might be informative for some of you.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... SApp_Other

[pappnase]

It doesn't really add much, the uk government quote was:-

From 25 February 2026, all dual British citizens will need to present either a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement to avoid delays at the border

"Avoid delays at the border" is very much not the same as "denied entry to UK".
Until it is actually implemented we won't really know how bad it is, but as far as the law is concerned you are either British or you are not, and that is
regardless of the status of your passport.

So next time I go I will just apply for an ESTA to get myself on the plane and if they kick up a fuss at the other end I will prove I am a citizen when I get to the other side using whatever documentation they need.

I'm fully aware that this might cause problems but I'm not gonna pay the UK to renounce my citizenship or renew a passport I don't need. If I don't get let in then I'll just never go there again.

[yesterday]

Just one very small point British or Irish can enter the UK with passports, without problems under the new rules.

In practice because of the Irish - UK, freedom of movement, I would be surprised if anyone was stopped going to the ROI, crossing to NI and getting the ferry to the UK.

The checking rules were made very simple, to keep the tensions lower in that part of the world