British citizens who also hold another nationality face an abrupt rule change this week after the Home Office confirmed that from **25 February 2026** international carriers must verify every passenger’s right to enter the UK in advance. Dual nationals who attempt to travel only on their non-UK passport can be **refused boarding** unless they present either a valid (or certain recently expired) British passport or a £589 digital Certificate of Entitlement. (theguardian.com)
Calls from families, immigration lawyers, former Conservative minister David Davis and Liberal Democrat MPs for a grace period were rejected on Tuesday night. Officials say the change is essential to complete the UK’s transition to a fully digital immigration system and to align documentation checks for British citizens with those already applied to visa holders and, from tomorrow, ETA travellers. (theguardian.com)
The impact is already being felt: the Guardian reports cancelled flights to funerals, business meetings and even a honeymoon as passengers discovered at check-in that they could not travel on an EU or US passport alone. Carriers have discretion to accept some expired British passports, but practices vary and many airport agents remain confused. (theguardian.com)
![British Dual Nationals Warned: No UK Passport, No Entry Under New Digital Border Rules]()
VisaHQ’s online platform can help travellers and HR teams navigate these new requirements smoothly. Through its dedicated United Kingdom page (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/), users can verify current entry rules, arrange expedited passport renewals, and even apply for supporting documents such as Certificates of Entitlement—minimising the chance of unexpected denial at check-in.
For global mobility teams the stakes are high. Employees on assignment who allow a UK passport to lapse—or whose passport is at HM Passport Office for renewal—may suddenly be immobile. Companies are rushing to audit passport validity, budget for premium renewals, and brief dual-national staff on alternatives such as the Certificate of Entitlement (processing time up to eight weeks).
Longer term, the episode highlights a broader trend: as borders digitise, nationality-based entitlements that once relied on human discretion are being hard-coded into airline systems. Mobility managers should expect similar “digital proof-of-status” demands to arise in other jurisdictions.
Calls from families, immigration lawyers, former Conservative minister David Davis and Liberal Democrat MPs for a grace period were rejected on Tuesday night. Officials say the change is essential to complete the UK’s transition to a fully digital immigration system and to align documentation checks for British citizens with those already applied to visa holders and, from tomorrow, ETA travellers. (theguardian.com)
The impact is already being felt: the Guardian reports cancelled flights to funerals, business meetings and even a honeymoon as passengers discovered at check-in that they could not travel on an EU or US passport alone. Carriers have discretion to accept some expired British passports, but practices vary and many airport agents remain confused. (theguardian.com)
VisaHQ’s online platform can help travellers and HR teams navigate these new requirements smoothly. Through its dedicated United Kingdom page (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/), users can verify current entry rules, arrange expedited passport renewals, and even apply for supporting documents such as Certificates of Entitlement—minimising the chance of unexpected denial at check-in.
For global mobility teams the stakes are high. Employees on assignment who allow a UK passport to lapse—or whose passport is at HM Passport Office for renewal—may suddenly be immobile. Companies are rushing to audit passport validity, budget for premium renewals, and brief dual-national staff on alternatives such as the Certificate of Entitlement (processing time up to eight weeks).
Longer term, the episode highlights a broader trend: as borders digitise, nationality-based entitlements that once relied on human discretion are being hard-coded into airline systems. Mobility managers should expect similar “digital proof-of-status” demands to arise in other jurisdictions.
