The £589 Border Tax. Why Dual Nationals Could Be Refused Entry From 25 February

From 25 February 2026, a significant change to UK border policy will affect thousands of dual nationals. If you hold British citizenship alongside another nationality, your second passport will no longer grant you automatic entry to the United Kingdom.

The £589 Border Tax Explained

The UK Government is tightening enforcement of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. While most travellers understand they need an ETA or visa to enter the UK, a lesser-known rule affects British dual nationals specifically.

**The rule is simple but costly:** If you are a British citizen, you must present a valid British passport to enter the UK. Attempting to enter on your second nationality passport, even from a visa-free country, will result in denied boarding or entry refusal.

Your alternatives if you do not have a British passport are limited and expensive:

- Apply for a British passport (standard adult fee £88.50, 3-10 week processing)

- Obtain a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode (£589, attached to your foreign passport)

Why Airlines Are Refusing Passengers

The change matters because of carrier liability. Airlines, ferry operators and Eurostar face fines of up to £2,000 per passenger if they transport someone who does not have the correct documentation to enter the UK.

From 25 February, carriers will be checking more rigorously. If you present a Canadian, Australian, American or European passport at check-in without a British passport or valid ETA, you will likely be refused boarding, even if you were born in the UK and hold a British driving licence.

Who This Affects Most

**British-European nationals** are particularly at risk. Many have travelled freely on their European passports since Brexit, unaware that their British citizenship technically requires them to use a British passport for entry.

**British-Canadian and British-Australian citizens** who have lived abroad for years often let their British passports lapse, travelling on their adopted country's passport instead.

**Children of dual nationals** may not realise they are British citizens if they have never held a British passport. If you were born in the UK to a British parent, you are likely a British citizen regardless of what passport you hold.

What You Should Do Now

**If you have a valid British passport:** Check the expiry date. You can enter the UK on a British passport that expires the day after your arrival. No ETA required.

**If your British passport has expired:** Apply for renewal immediately. Fast Track services (£155) offer 1-week turnaround if you can attend a passport office appointment.

**If you have never held a British passport but believe you are a British citizen:** You can apply for your first adult passport (£88.50) or obtain a Certificate of Entitlement (£589). The Certificate is valid for the life of the passport it is attached to.

**If you are unsure of your citizenship status:** The UK Government's online checker can confirm whether you are automatically a British citizen. Do not assume based on where you were born or how long you have lived in the UK.

The Eurostar Complication

Eurostar passengers face additional scrutiny. Unlike airlines that check passports at check-in, Eurostar conducts document checks at both departure and arrival. Dual nationals have been caught out at St Pancras when their British passport was not produced, despite holding a valid European passport.

Eurostar's advice is explicit: British citizens must travel on a British passport. No exceptions.

Why This Matters for Families

The rule applies to every traveller individually. A family of four where only the parents hold British passports could see their children refused entry if those children hold only foreign passports, even if the children were born in the UK.

If your children were born abroad to British parents, they may be British citizens by descent but not hold British passports. They need either a British passport or an ETA on their foreign passport to enter the UK.

The Bottom Line

With nine days until enforcement begins, the window for passport applications is tight. If you are a dual national planning to travel to the UK after 25 February 2026, check your documentation today. The £589 Certificate of Entitlement is an expensive last resort, but it is cheaper than cancelled flights and refused entry.

The UK border is becoming less forgiving of documentation oversights. Assume you will be checked, and travel with the passport that matches your citizenship.

---

**Sources:**

- [UK Government: Electronic Travel Authorisation](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/electronic-travel-authorisation-eta)

- [The Guardian: Dual Nationals Face UK Entry Restrictions](https://www.theguardian.com/)

- [US Embassy London: Travel Advisory](https://uk.usembassy.gov/)

- [UK Passport Office: Apply for a Passport](https://www.gov.uk/apply-renew-passport)