Dual UK–Australian citizens must now travel on a British passport – Home Office ends long-standing leniency

In a move intertwined with the new Electronic Travel Authorisation system, Britain has closed a loophole that allowed dual nationals to fly on whichever passport was most convenient. From 25 February 2026, airlines and ferry operators are legally obliged to insist that passengers who hold British citizenship present either a valid UK passport or a Certificate of Entitlement in a foreign passport before boarding. For tens of thousands of Australians with inherited or naturalised British nationality, the change is significant. Because dual citizens are *ineligible* for the new ETA, they no longer have the option of using their Australian passport alongside the digital permit. Those without a current UK passport must either pay A$190 for a standard renewal (which can take up to 11 weeks when lodged from Australia) or fork out almost A$1,200 for a Certificate of Entitlement – a vignette glued into the Australian passport attesting to “Right of Abode”. Industry bodies fear short-term chaos at check-in counters. Luke Petherbridge from UK travel association ABTA has lobbied for a grace period, while the Liberal Democrats called the sudden enforcement “bureaucratic over-reach that risks holiday heartbreak”. Carriers are unforgiving; Heathrow-bound passengers who cannot satisfy the new documentation rules will be off-loaded to avoid hefty carrier liability fines. Australian mobility managers have already fielded panicked queries from staff on assignment or extended leave.



At this juncture, specialist visa advisers can be invaluable. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) lets Australian travellers and corporate mobility teams verify documentation requirements in real time, arrange UK passport renewals, and even coordinate applications for Certificates of Entitlement, streamlining what could otherwise be a paperwork minefield.

“We’re telling dual citizens: if you have UK nationality, use your UK passport – full stop,” BHP’s global mobility head Jenny Kuo said. Immigration lawyers warn that travelling on an Australian passport once the rule is active could jeopardise UK citizenship status in rare cases involving renunciation clauses of third countries. The Home Office argues the measure simply aligns carrier checks with immigration law and removes ambiguity as the UK moves to fully digital border clearance. For Australian corporates, the episode illustrates why nationality tracing – often overlooked when employees self-book travel – must become a core compliance data point.