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

[john_b]

(Copied from social media)

Here is an interesting briefing from the House of Commons library addressing the question that often appears here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/re ... cbp-10344/

Here is the important part:

"From 25 February 2026, the Home Office will be fully applying the ETA requirement. The Home Office is advising British dual citizens. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/electronic- ... l-citizens to make sure they have a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement if they will be travelling on or after that date. If they don’t, they may not be able to board their transport to the UK."

[warsteiner70]

Interesting but the way you have worded it suggests that British citizens with dual nationality won't be able to travel to the UK without a UK passport, which isn't true.

You seem to have missed out the following on the https://www.gov.uk/guidance/electronic- ... l-citizens website:

"You will need to have additional identity checks to verify your citizenship before you can go through UK passport control."

So, as a dual British/German national if I decide not to take my UK passport (or let it expire) after the 25th Feb, I will still be able to use my German passport but, may, need a ETA.

So the change is:

Before 25th Feb - I can travel to the UK with my German passport and not need an ETA (as I have dual UK-DE citizenship)

After 26th Feb - I can still travel to the UK with my German passport but *may* need as ETA (even with UK citizenship), which isn't really surprising.

Little bit of a scaremongering Daily Mail article here

[dstanners]

Just as an aside, it's significantly faster and cheaper to buy an ETA than to renew a UK passport, and British nationals are able to get an ETA (which it seems the Mail omitted to mention). I know, as I have one.

[GaryC]

I think you all need to read the guidance again. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/electronic- ... l-citizens

"You cannot get an ETA if you are a dual citizen with either:

• British citizenship

• Irish citizenship

"

From 25 February you will need to use a valid British or Irish passport, or "another valid passport containing a certificate of entitlement", whatever the latter means.

FCDO posted on FB yesterday https://www.facebook.com/FCDOTravel

[warsteiner70]

Well the FB article makes it much clearer. I'm not too sure why the GOV.UK article didn't mention this.

But since the certificate of entitlement costs £589 (https://www.gov.uk/right-of-abode/apply ... ntitlement) I think I will wait and see what happens. My UK passport expires in 3 years and I wasn't too sure whether to renew or not.

I guess I will have to see what the rules are then and what exactly the "You will need to have additional identity checks to verify your citizenship before you can go through UK passport control." process is.

[GaryC]

I read it simply as "You need to use a valid British (or Irish) passport", so no more entering the UK on your other passport...

[john_b]

Well, as I have British, Irish and German citizenships then the Irish passport would seem to be the simplest option for me...and I always have my German Ausweis on me in any case...

[FWIW - British since birth; Irish mother/citizenship long before Brexit; German since 2019 (in order to vote)]

[snowingagain]

How can they possibly know? And why? If you are travelling on German, and have an ETA?

[snowingagain]

Irish would be great. Still not found my grandfather's birth record... think it is a lost cause. Perhaps I could go over and trawl round all the remaining COI parishes that have not given their baptism records over... though I doubt there are many left. It would have been quicker to move there when I first started looking, and just get naturalised. Though somewhat inconvenient family-wise.

[Andy P]

How can they possibly know? And why? If you are travelling on German, and have an ETA?

Well, in theory they could match your name and date of birth with UK passport records, but I suspect they wouldn't actually do that at the border.

But you're not allowed to apply for an ETA if you are a UK double citizen, so you'd have to have made a false declaration. And maybe they do check ETA applications.

[Fraufruit]

They get a lot of info when they swipe your passport. I'm not British but I once gave my Ami passport at immigration and they immediately asked for my Aufenhaltserlaubnis. Of course, that was in Germany.

[dstanners]

Well, I can only state again that I have an ETA (as do my kids), so it is definitely possible for British dual nationals to have one.
If the article is true, it would seem daft that after February my kids and I (all three of us born in England and previous UK passport holders) would be stopped at the British border when travelling with our valid German passports, whereas my wife (only German) would be allowed through.

[GaryC]

The article is true and the GOV UK guidance is absolutely clear. You can of course do what you like but don't complain if you are denied entry if you turn up without a valid UK passport.

[warsteiner70]

This is new so it will no doubt be a bit chaotic to begin with. Some people think the guidance is clear but I see it as being open to interpretation due to the wording of the article, which is a problem.

The website mentions:

"Travelling on or after 25 February 2026

You may not be able to board your transport to the UK without a valid document.

You will need to have additional identity checks to verify your citizenship before you can go through UK passport control."

The way I interpret this is:

- If you fly from DE to the UK with a German passport but have dual UK/DE citizenship you may not (not will not) be able to board the aircraft. For countries that need a visa to enter the check-in staff will check you have the correct visa/documentation to enter the arrival country before they will allow you to board the aircraft. They 'may' not let you board but there again, they may.

- If you are able to board the aircraft (if you fly) or you travel by car/train then you would need additional checks (who knows what these are) at UK passport control.

It doesn't mention that people with dual UK/DE citizenship who don't travel with a UK passport will be refused entry at passport control - just that additional checks will be needed. In the same way it doesn't mention that people with dual UK/DE citizenship who don't travel with a UK passport definitely won't be allowed to board transport to the UK.

If it were the case that the advice was the same as the screenshot I posted from FB (Dual British citizens must have a valid British passport when travelling to the UK) rather than 'may not be able to board' and 'additional checks will be required at passport control' then it would be much clearer.

I'm sure we will see stories in the Press at the end of next month with dual citizens being refused entry to the UK without a UK passport and probably other examples of dual citizens without UK passports being allowed entry.

If you are a dual citizen and don't have a UK passport it's probably best to wait a few months before travelling to the UK too see what happens.

[kaffeemitmilch]

FWIW, the US has always said that US citizens cannot apply for an ESTA and must use a US passport to enter. In reality, there are dual citizens who DO apply for and GET an ESTA (not sure whether ALL who apply are issued one, though). The key is to declare US citizenship in front of the CBP officer, and NOT enter as a non-US citizen. In the end, a US citizen cannot be denied entry to the US for this reason, so even if you're sent to secondary inspection and delayed, you are eventually allowed in once they confirm your status.

The same is likely true for the UK. Could face delays, but probably won't really. You might get a warning. However, it seems the easiest thing to do is just get the British passport as well, though I've heard it's a hassle. At least getting a US passport is very simple, though time consuming sometimes.

[Andy P]

Renewing or replacing a UK passport from Germany is not a great hassle in my experience.

It is expensive (£94.50 for 10 years), but actually comparable with the ETA (£16 every 2 years plus once on German passport expiry).

Though for a dual UK citizen, I don't see how you can obtain an ETA without making a false declaration to the authorities, which could be a serious problem.