After 25 Feb dual nationals cannot enter the UK with an Italian passport. They will need a valid British passport.

Ridiculous, to say the least!
This means that dual Nationals are being penalised if they don't possess a British passport. Certificate of entitlement is an alternative at almost 600 euros!! Is this some sort of a joke? I already have an Italian passport but cannot apply for an ETA because I have Italian/British nationality? Meanwhile an Italian or other EU citizen can easily travel to the UK simply getting an ETA for 16euros. Senseless! In other words, the UK is protecting its borders from its OWN nationals . Well, this is a new one!

I certainly understand your sentiments but I beg to differ. Many other countries have similar rules - we have been relaxed about our entry rules. For example, all Italian nationals are required to enter Italy with their Italian passport or ID card.

Yup, same has always been in USA, USA nationals must enter USA on USA passport.

Anyways, articles are pure sensationalist headline grabbing.
UK nationals can always enter UK, with or without UK passport. But will be delayed at border until checks are completed, sometime for many many hours.
There is NO legal requirement for UK national to poses passport to enter or leave UK.
Requirements/restrictions are mainly from travel carriers, as they will be penalized for bringing passenger without passport.

Somebody will be asking for a source on your claim

Lots of similar threads in various other BE threads about this. Some agree and some disagree but WHAT is the actual law?

Now the UK Gov says this in the link below but is that the actual Law/Legislation

https://www.gov.uk/dual-citizenship

The British Nationality Act 1981 defines the forms of British nationality.
The Immigration Act 1971 sets out who has the right of abode in the UK (territory). British citizenship, as a form of British nationality as well as a UK (territory) immigration status, entitles the holder to the right of abode in the said territory - British citizens are not subject to immigration control or deportation orders.

But without your passport, you may be refused boarding outside the UK. Once you have landed, there will need to be additional verification of your identity.

Is that really the case, daniel t? Italian nationals with dual nationality must use Italian passport to enter Italy? I'm really behind then, I had never thought about this. When I lived in London, I used to travel from UK to Italy using my British passport, having dual nationality, with no problems. However, the last time was thirty years ago so obviously rules have changed over the years.
.
Anyway, this doesn't change the fact that for British citizens visiting Italy, only a passport is needed, no other authorization.

You can enter Italy with your ID card. You can travel to a lot of countries just with an ID card.

Well after more digging around I did find these sourcesThere isn’t a specific legal requirement for British citizens to travel on a British passport but in practice pre-departure checks for UK-bound travellers make it difficult to travel to the UK without one.

All British citizens have the right of abode in the UK (meaning, the entitlement to live or work in the UK without any immigration restrictions). This makes them exempt from immigration control. They don’t need an immigration officer’s permission to enter the UK, but they must be able to demonstrate that they have the right of abode.

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk...ngs/cbp-10344/

The above document has more info about this.

Then there is this

12. A person claiming to be a British citizen must prove that he has the right of abode in the United Kingdom by producing either:

(i) a United Kingdom passport describing him as a British citizen or as a citizen of the United

Kingdom and Colonies having the right of abode in the United Kingdom; or

(ii) a certificate of entitlement duly issued by or on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom certifying that he has the right of abode.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigrat...stay-in-the-uk

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1971/77/section/3

As I have no wish to reside or work in the UK and merely just visit then why do I need a UK passport.

As I have no wish to reside or work in the UK and merely just visit then why do I need a UK passport.[/QUOTE]

You dont. Just travel on your Italian passport with an ETA. Noone is going to pull you aside and check if you are actually British when you travel as an Italian. It only becomes a problem if you are lpanning to stay long term presumably.

You dont. Just travel on your Italian passport with an ETA.


The link posted above says that dual citizens cannot obtain an ETA.

You dont. Just travel on your Italian passport with an ETA. Noone is going to pull you aside and check if you are actually British when you travel as an Italian. It only becomes a problem if you are lpanning to stay long term presumably.[/QUOTE]

Actually I have dual citizenship with Canada not Italy.

Dual citizens cannot apply for an ETA unless you lie on the application form.

If you read the links it quite clearly states

There isn’t a specific legal requirement for British citizens to travel on a British passport but in practice pre-departure checks for UK-bound travellers make it difficult to travel to the UK without one.

A British dual national travelling on a foreign passport is not supposed to use any of those. They would be ineligible for an ETA, eVisa or immigration permission due to their British citizenship.
From 25 February 2026, the Home Office will be fully applying the ETA requirement. The Home Office is advising British dual citizens to make sure they have a valid UK or Irish 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.

See depending which link you use how you are given conflicting information. NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT to travel on a British passport. NOT SUPPOSED TO, MAY NOT BE.

Clear as mud.

You dont. Just travel on your Italian passport with an ETA. Noone is going to pull you aside and check if you are actually British when you travel as an Italian. It only becomes a problem if you are lpanning to stay long term presumably.[/QUOTE]


Yes, that's what I was thinking, but on your Italian passport, the place of birth is specified and if it says GB, then they could ask you "Where's your UK passport then"? and tell you that "you cannot have an ETA if you have dual nationality". They would immediately notice my London accent!

From what I've been reading, it doesn't apply only for long stays, also for short trips. There may be no law to turn you away but I can imagine the unnecessary delays and nuisance this could cause!
Basically, dual citizens are being strongly advised to possess two passports and take them both when travelling to/from UK.

This is the page - https://www.gov.uk/eta/when-not-need-eta

Apologies all - obviously Im assuming common sense would take precedence over ill thought out rules. (Why would I think that? I live in Italy).
Ive always travelled on my Italian passport, and just used my Uk passport at the ridiculous egates in GB. Given the fines etc - an actual Passport looks like a bargain, even though it only can be used for 9 years an 6 months - which leads me to think why dont they issue a ten year passport for 10 years and 6 months?