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

[GaryC]

Sorry but that doesn't make sense. If you are a British and EU citizen, then settled status is of no relevance and why, if you are UK resident would you not have a UK passport as a dual citizen? If correct it seems somewhat niche!

[Robinson100]

I think a large part of the problem here is that dual citizens have previously been able to travel to the UK and back from wherever in Europe on their "foreign" passport or ID card.
And with a UK passport costing around £100, many have chosen, over the years to only use their resident card for travel within Europe and to visit the UK.
Now the requirement to present a British passport or a "Certificate of Entitlement" which costs £589 is making things a little more complicated.

[Feierabend]

Sorry but that doesn't make sense. If you are a British and EU citizen, then settled status is of no relevance and why, if you are UK resident would you not have a UK passport as a dual citizen? If correct it seems somewhat niche!

That's the problem with these changes, everything is now niche and you have to really check your own circumstances. From Gov UK:

"Check if you can travel with a national identity card
You can only use a national identity card from an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein to enter the UK if one or more of the following is true:

you have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man’s settlement schemes
you have an EU Settlement Scheme family permit, or the equivalent from Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man
you have a Frontier Worker permit
you are an S2 Healthcare Visitor
you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national aged 18 or under travelling as part of a French school group using a France-UK school trip travel information form
......."

[Feierabend]

Also from GovUK:
"(If)You’re a British citizen
You can enter the UK with one of the following identity documents:

a valid UK passport
a Gibraltar identity card
a certificate of entitlement that shows you have the right of abode in the UK
If you have dual citizenship with the UK and another country, you might also be able to travel with an expired UK passport or emergency travel document."

But hey, note the word "might."
No wonder people are confused, and how accurate are the guidelines given to the people who have to decide whether you can board the plane/ship, because it seems the buck has been passed down to them.

[Fraufruit]

Also the word OR between UK Passport and emergency travel document. It looks like one OR the other but is it really?

[kiplette]

Well yes, there is that too.

It's just more mud in the water, really, because of the 'might' - who is really going to leave their travel plans on the whim of a Ryanair dude? Airline employees are notoriously fickle and this kind of extra power isn't helpful to an individual traveller at all...

[pappnase]

Although I moan about this new rule, for me it's fairly easy I can pay or choose not to travel to the UK.
Far worse is the issue for dual nationals growing up in the UK and ending up stuck when they go abroad.

Take the following example:-
One parent is from an EU country, the other is from the UK, you are all living together as a family, but of course the kids are dual nationals.
The kids grow up in the UK and the parents never apply for a second passport, the foreign one is good enough and cheaper to-boot.
You travel together, get to the airport in the uk and they let you all on the plane just fine because you all have a valid passport for your destination.

Then you get to the airport to come home, and suddenly you have a problem. Mum can go back to the UK, she is British and has a British passport, Dad can go too, he is an EU national and has the relevant paperwork.

The kids however are stuck. They have EU passports but are UK citizens and no way to get the relevant paperwork.

Think that could never happen?

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... onal-rules

[snowingagain]

Were the kids born in the UK? If so, a birth cert will probably work for now. At least it would if you were dealing with Immigration at a UK border. Problem being it is an airliner or similar making the decision, and it can cost them if they make a mistake. Longer term, yes, they need to British passports.

[pappnase]

How do you get your UK birth-certificate when you are already overseas? Will an airline accept a birth-certificate?
The issue here is that you could easily head for the country of second citzenship without knowing you need a UK passport to come home.

EDIT: It's a hypothetical with an example from a newspaper, no point trying to solve this

[snowingagain]

I used to travel with an ancient copy of one. They are quite easy to get. Though of course not overnight.

[GoodGrape]

And so it begins
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... onal-rules

[hh-sailor]

On my sailing trips I often have to change in London. So I applied for UK passport and I'm now good to go. 140 GBP or so but I'm fine thanks.

But my kids were born in Germany, lived all their lives here and only have German documents. I can't see anyone at the border knowing that they have dual nationality.

But I warned them to get a UK passport just in case they ever want to visit or even transit the UK. It's a bit like needing a visa to go places. If you need it, you have to get it.

[bethannbitt]

How do you get your UK birth-certificate when you are already overseas?

In 2024 I actually ordered 2 new official notarized birth certificates online from the state office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and paid to have them sent to via registered mail. Had ‘em in two weeks. I wanted one for my Niederlassungserlaubnis application and got a second one for good measure. Prior to that I only had a photocopy on hand. Do you all have to run back to in person for such things? Just curious.

[alma.freya]

How do you get your UK birth-certificate when you are already overseas?

In 2024 I actually ordered 2 new official notarized birth certificates online from the state office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and paid to have them sent to via registered mail. Had ‘em in two weeks. I wanted one for my Niederlassungserlaubnis application and got a second one for good measure. Prior to that I only had a photocopy on hand. Do you all have to run back to in person for such things? Just curious.

Na you can order copies online and they'll be mailed to Germany: https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/

I ordered copies of my parents birth marriage and death certificates, my birth certificate, adoption certificate. You just search and pay. No need for ID.

[snowingagain]

And so it begins
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... onal-rules

She had her British birth certificate with her, did not help.

And this bit: "In a further setback, officials at the Passport Office told her father they would cancel Hanne’s passport application made weeks ago because they now knew Hanne was overseas. She would have to start again with an application from outside the country that could take six weeks"