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

No problem

You will be carrying both passports anyway so if the airline asks, just show them.

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

When flying from UK to Spain, use Irish or UK passport on the booking..
At UK airline check in, show the passport booked with.
At UK border control - show UK passport to exit.
On entering Spain - show Irish passport to enter.

Airline Check in Spain when leaving - show Irish or UK passport as per the booking.
At Spain border control - show Irish passport to exit.
At UK border control on entering - show UK passport to enter.

Why would that not work in and out of Schengen?

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

Whilst switching passports between what you book a flight with and what you enter a country on is perfectly acceptable (in EU countries) the two systems are not seperate, the airline systems typically feed into immigration (and other) systems in most countries. It doesn't make any difference in this scenario but it's worth keeping in mind.

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

They are separate in that it makes no difference what passport number you enter into the airline booking. When you get to immigration you are under no obligation to use that one and they will not question the difference.

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

In the context of this thread it probably doesn’t make any difference. However the passport you check in with has to be valid to gain entry to the destination, airlines have an obligation to check this. Also keep I mind that not all countries have immigration checks on departure (UK being one) , the exit data for immigration is taken from the checked in passport from airlines.

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

Well they say they are tightening up migration controls and how is that going so far?

The onus of proof to prove one’s citizenship is on the person seeking entry into a country and of course this can be done a number of ways be it a passport or some other acceptable document to show the authorities. But there again it’s not like those documents produced have found to be fake, altered or forged.

Yes we accepted a 2nd citizenship for a variety of reasons however many of us did this many many years ago when this was not the law. Yes laws can also be changed.

I notice like me you have posted this reply on numerous threads for other countries is this your opinion or just stating what the Govt is saying and that you agree with this?

So in my case I took up my 2nd citizenship about 35 years ago (35 this year) and never renewed my UK passport.

So please give us querying this new law/policy a sensible reply/argument to the following

I am a dual citizen and have been for 35 years. I want to go back to visit relatives in the UK and I hold a valid Canadian passport and will gladly pay the fees for the eTA. I do have a copy of my birth certificate from the UK, an expired passport and NI number. I also have supporting documents showing I served in HM Forces and the Lancashire Constabulary.

Based on the above why cannot I apply for the eTA?

From the UK Govt website

All British citizens automatically have right of abode in the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/right-of-abode

In my case I am not returning to live or work in the UK and even if I was I have an automatic right according to that publication but I now see they have added this

You can prove you have right of abode if you have a UK passport describing you as a British citizen or British subject with right of abode.

Oh but FL you are just being a PITA or just arguing for arguments sake.

Well actually that was my previous job to examine people entering Canada and the last 8 years putting forward cases to ask for non citizens to be removed from Canada so forgive me for arguing my case why I don’t think it was as well thought policy from my POV.

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

The Guardian: New UK border rules for dual nationals are discriminatory against women, campaigners say

- Women with both British and Spanish or Greek nationality may have problems as the airline could refuse boarding as the last name won't match in the passports (if you say you don't need an ETA and try and prove you are a British dual citizen).
- People who obtained Spanish nationality by residency and didn't renounce their British nationality could lose their Spanish nationality if Spain realises they didn't renounce their British nationality.
- Home Office seems unaware that names don't have to match in passports, as much as they'd like them to.

Additionally, I think:
- The same problems would happen with Portuguese nationality.
- The same problems would happen with men who obtain Spanish nationality and don't renounce British nationality (their last name on the Spanish passport is the father's surname followed by their mother's maiden name).

So, pointless problems where there were none before.

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

Stop using common sense man don't you know that died many years ago:sneaky:

By introducing problems that did not exist before I am sure there are jobs being kept in place and lawyers making money and of course the Govt is getting revenue from those who have to apply for a passport. All makes perfect sense.

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

Practically a u-turn...

Dual nationals could use expired UK passports to prove they are British, Home Office says

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

"But I threw it away"...

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.