Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

It would be an odd way for the government to propose making a profit, given that the costs of issuing passports currently outweighs the amount received in fees.

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

This is also about the airline's own discretion so not the most confident way to plan a trip.

Best to just keep that passport valid and renew every decade... especially since it's so easy to do nowadays anyway (at least when in the UK).

Of course they could make things a WHOLE lot easier in many aspects (not just travel) by introducing a UK ID card. Still cannot believe there is so much public opposition to the idea...

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

Where did you get the idea that I was insinuating the Govt was making a profit? I said they would be collecting revenue from issuing these passports. The Govt is not in the profit making business in any entity it governs. It is there to provide a service and if well managed it should not be making substantial losses when providing any service. Of course it has to contract work out to the private sector if it does not have the capability of doing it themselves and we all have heard of the horror stories about how much they charge the Govt for their services and can get away with it therefore they make the profit.

Perhaps they should start charging more for these services and raise your taxes to achieve this.

Just saying.

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

From the article

Morgan Read, an immigration barrister at North Square chambers, said there was nothing in the Immigration Act 1971 requiring a valid UK passport to prove British citizenship. “It is well established that expired passports can be used to prove citizenship and identity – that’s not their purpose, but they can be used for that,” he said, pointing to the official government page on “right to work” checks for British or Irish citizens that allows expired passports.

Yet when I point out this obvious piece of legislation that has not yet been amended I get negative comments or the usual stop being a PITA and get a passport or renounce your citizenship.

Amend the legislation rather than faff around with policies that could actually be legally challenged and as the current PM is a man of the law and rules and nobody is above the law then the simplest thing would be to amend the law.

With no plans to travel I will cross whatever bridge is in place if I want to go back for a visit.

Of course they could allow dual citizens to apply for the eTA using the passport of the country they are living in and relieve pressure on the airline agents. On arrival I am willing to join a different line however in my case I can use the E gates so what is the big deal. If it takes me an extra 30 minutes not a problem. If I have to go see an actual officer then no problem with that either.

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

My son does have an expired British passport. His ETA was applied for last summer when something like this was suspected but not clarified in any meaningful way and it should have been denied because a name/birthday search of the UK passport database should have found him, but it wasn't.

After Brexit he travelled just on his Spanish passport and even though we brought his expired British passport with us, we were never asked for it.

So I suppose we won't have any problem in airports because his Spanish passport does have a valid ETA, at least until it expires. Perhaps by then there will be proper checks for British dual nationals and it won't be possible for them to apply for an ETA.

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

It's not the flight to Gran Canaria that's the problem, it's the flight back. Your wife needs to fly to the UK on her British passport as otherwise she would need an ETA... and you cannot get an ETA if you are a British citizen.

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

Thank you

We were going use her Italian passport in Gran Canaria and her British passport back in the UK, but it looks as though we can't.

Would there be a problem using British passport with airline, but using her Italian passport with customs in Gran Canaria?

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

No. You'll be fine doing that.

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

Italian passport for checking in on the flight from the UK to Gran Canaria and also to be used upon arrival in Gran Canaria (passport control at EU entry).

UK passport for check-in for the return flight to the UK, but showing Italian passport again when exiting Gran Canaria (passport control at EU exit).

UK passport upon arrival in the UK.

So to sum things up, when it comes to trips between the UK and EU:

1. You give the airline the passport details based on the country you are flying TO, so EU passport when flying to EU, UK passport for the return flight to the UK
2. On the ground during passport control you show the passport of the country you're IN, so EU passport when going through passport control at an EU airport (arriving AND departing), and UK passport after arriving back in the UK.

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

Thank you, that's really useful. Unfortunately with Ryanair, with return trips, you have to use the same documents for both trips. In future we will book one way trips. Just have to put up with it for this trip.

Thanls again

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

That is so simple, that most of people will be doing it wrong way around. :lol:

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

Then if Ryanair's website accepts the UK passport for both trips, enter that.

You do not have to use the same passport at check-in, or at Immigration.

You can enter the UK passport details for both flights on the website, then on the actual journey use them as per Astera's post above.

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

Yes, since Ryanair wants the same passport for a return journey you might as well give them the details of the UK one.

I only purchase 1-way tickets as that way if something happens to my outbound journey (I need to postpone it and purchase a flight for the next day, or I miss my outbound flight and need to buy a seat on a later flight) it won't affect the ticket for the flight back, which will still be valid.

If you buy a return ticket and miss the outbound... then your return journey is no longer valid.

P.S. For future use it's worth noting that Ryanair's website/app is very handy for storing not only your profile info but also adding persons you often travel with. Under "My Account" , "Travel Companions" you can add multiple profiles and, more importantly, you can even store MULTIPLE passports for each person. :)

Very useful when booking flights frequently or "on the go" where you don't want to be typing in passport info each time you book, even if they have more than one passport each. Smart app.

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

Seeing so many reports of people being stuck in European countries because they didn't have the correct documentation, that either means a failing of the UK government or the airline to make sure that passengers were aware of the changed rules, or the fact that people have just thought, well we've always done it this way, so it won't affect us, just as so many did after Brexit.

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

Thanks again. Definitely doing that next the next trip. We've decided to both, use out British passports for this trip and get the EES out of the way as a backup.

Hope the queues are not too long.

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

Surely you must use your British passport for outbound AND inbound flights. You still need passport stamps for the time being and EES needs to be able to record length of stay for your 90/180 record. Wouldn't using an EU passport outbound mess that up?

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

If you also have an EU passport then you ONLY use your EU passport when passing through passport control at an EU airport. Both when arriving and departing.

You use your UK passport only when passing through passport control once you land back in the UK. There is no passport control when flying out of the UK (airline staff only check to make sure the name matches the boarding pass).

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

At Bristol Border Force regularly check for a stamp from the departing airport. I'm not sure I would want to have to explain the lack of stamp from earlier that day. Not sure if they have access to EES data.

At departure gate desk staff are checking passport details match those on the booking, outbound and inbound.

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

First of all why would they check for a passport stamp from another country?

Secondly, if they happen to ask just inform them that you used your EU passport to enter/exit the EU. You just tell them the truth, it's not like you're hiding anything or doing anything wrong.

Plus in some EU countries it is against the law to use a foreign passport if you are a citizen of that country.

Never in decades of flying have I ever seen gate staff check passport numbers or anything like this. It's name only to make sure it's your BP.

And if they do, you just whip out your other passport and continue boarding.

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

I guess it doesn't matter if the passport holder is not subject to the EES 90/180 rule.

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

With EES (working) there won't be any exit passport stamp in the passport, nor is there for residents.

In any case passport stamps aren't checked by UK e-gates.

Re: 25/2/2026: New rule for British dual nationals - must travel on UK passport
 

If you are an EU citizen you are not subject to any of this 90/180 stuff. This is only for non-EU visitors. That's why if you have an EU passport you should always use it when entering/exiting the EU.

Previously you were worried about Border Force upon returning and I'm still not sure why. You are allowed to hold multiple citizenships (passports), the UK allows this.