In an eleventh-hour concession revealed by The Independent on 20 February, the Home Office has told airlines they may, at their discretion, accept expired British passports issued as far back as 1989 when carried with a valid foreign passport from a visa-waiver country. The temporary workaround is designed to avert mass travel disruption when dual nationals become subject to the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) regime on 25 February. Until now, government guidance insisted that dual citizens present either a current British passport or a costly Certificate of Entitlement.
![Expired UK passports now accepted—at airline discretion—as lifeline for dual citizens]()
For dual nationals who need clarity on ETA rules or assistance renewing documents at speed, VisaHQ can help streamline the process. Its dedicated UK platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) offers step-by-step support for passport renewals, ETAs and other visa services, reducing the chances of last-minute travel snags.
Carriers faced fines of up to £10,000 per passenger for non-compliance. Industry sources say the late policy change followed intense lobbying from airlines concerned about denying boarding to customers who had already bought tickets for half-term travel. The measure is optional: airlines such as British Airways, Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic say they will accept the expired-passport combo, while others—particularly low-cost and non-UK carriers—are still reviewing. Mobility managers should therefore confirm airline policy before booking and advise travellers to bring proof of a pending renewal where possible. The development highlights wider teething problems with the UK’s shift to a digital border. Stakeholders are calling for clearer communications and a formal transitional phase to ensure citizen-travellers are not inadvertently stranded abroad. HM Passport Office has also been urged to prioritise dual-national renewal applications in the coming weeks.
For dual nationals who need clarity on ETA rules or assistance renewing documents at speed, VisaHQ can help streamline the process. Its dedicated UK platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) offers step-by-step support for passport renewals, ETAs and other visa services, reducing the chances of last-minute travel snags.
Carriers faced fines of up to £10,000 per passenger for non-compliance. Industry sources say the late policy change followed intense lobbying from airlines concerned about denying boarding to customers who had already bought tickets for half-term travel. The measure is optional: airlines such as British Airways, Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic say they will accept the expired-passport combo, while others—particularly low-cost and non-UK carriers—are still reviewing. Mobility managers should therefore confirm airline policy before booking and advise travellers to bring proof of a pending renewal where possible. The development highlights wider teething problems with the UK’s shift to a digital border. Stakeholders are calling for clearer communications and a formal transitional phase to ensure citizen-travellers are not inadvertently stranded abroad. HM Passport Office has also been urged to prioritise dual-national renewal applications in the coming weeks.
