‘Technically British’: UK visa rule change unleashes confusion for dual citizens

Dual Australian-British citizens are discovering that nearly forgotten family links to the UK and Ireland may prevent them from entering the countries with a cheap online pass and instead require them to take out a foreign passport or certificate costing more than $1000.

The rule change, which could capture thousands of Australians of British parentage who don’t hold UK passports, comes into effect on February 25 has already upended itineraries. It affects anyone who is technically a British or Irish citizen, regardless or not of whether they have taken steps to claim that nationality in practice.

As a result, dual citizens are ineligible for the inexpensive £16 ($30.50) ETA that current lets them travel to the UK. Instead, they will need a British or Irish passport.

“British citizens, including those who hold dual nationality, are not eligible to apply for an ETA, even if their other nationality (such as Australian) would normally require one,” the British High Commission stated. “This is because British citizens already have the right of abode in the UK.”

Dual citizens also have the option of obtaining a Certificate of Entitlement from the British government for a one-time fee of £589 ($1,135), which can be used alongside a non-UK passport to enter the country. The Certificate of Entitlement can be applied for from within the UK or abroad.

The rule change has set off a string of panicked conversations between travel providers and Australians heading to the UK who may be unwitting British citizens by descent. Lynton Jones, of the Sydney-based travel agency The Savvy Traveller, said he had one customer born in 1943 to a father from the UK who immigrated to Australia in 1913 as a toddler.

The customer “never had, nor thought he could have, nor wanted” a UK passport, Jones said. “Now in his 80s, it would seem that he is technically classed as British by the UK government.”

More than 900,000 Australians were born in the UK, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data, and many more have a parent who was. The UK government warns: “If you or your parents were born in the UK, you might automatically be a British citizen.”

Although the man successfully applied for his ETA online, Jones noted that “his information is technically wrong. If it was queried, he could be denied entry under the new rules upon arrival, even with his approved ETA in place.” With less than two months until departure, it is not clear what he should do.

“As a travel professional, I don’t want to give him wrong information, especially with the trip costing tens of thousands of dollars,” said Jones.

In another instance, a travel agent had to cancel and rebook a family’s long-awaited UK holiday when the travellers realised too late they required UK passports and could not obtain them in time. The postponement came at “considerable financial and emotional expense,” the Australian Travel Industry Association wrote.

One affected traveller posted on a UK visa forum that they were born in the UK but had lived in Australia for 15 years. They applied for British passports for their two sons at the start of the year but have seen no progress. “It has been nearly a month since any update on our applications after sending them every bit of supporting documentation they need. I’m starting to panic now,” they wrote.

A UK passport — which requires periodic renewal — costs £108 for an online adult application in Australia and £70 for a child, plus a £19.86 courier fee (about $380 all up). A typical four-week turnaround begins once initial documents are received. An Australian adult passport costs $422.

While the change affects 85 countries, it has sparked a firestorm among British and Irish Australians. “I think there is some confusion,” said Anthony Goldman, joint managing director of the Goldman Group, a travel agency focussing on corporate and luxury travel. “Not everyone is going to register the change.”

The changes will also affect Australians with no claim to British citizenship. While ETAs have been used since October 2023, the new rule will see them strictly enforced by British customs effective February 25. The ETA will become mandatory to board a plane for the UK.

Flight Centre notes: “Airlines will be legally required to verify an ETA before allowing travel for short visits, including tourism, business and transit.”

Despite the confusion, bookings remain strong. Flight Centre Corporate data shows bookings in January 2026 are up compared to a year ago. The British government maintains that “the introduction of ETAs is in line with the approach many other countries have taken to border security… and helps prevent the arrival of those who present a threat to the UK.”

Goldman noted that Australians are generally “used to different visa entry requirements,” citing recent updates to European travel rules. “The difference is that this affects a lot of Australians because they’re British citizens by descent,” he said. “If someone has a father born in the UK 80 years ago, theoretically they will now need a UK passport.”

To clear up the confusion, the government has provided a “Check if you’re a British citizen” webpage, allowing travellers to confirm which documents they need and which queue they should join upon arrival.

Underscoring the complexity of citizenship rules, numerous Australian politicians were ejected from office in 2017-18 because they unwittingly were subjects of other countries. The Constitution requires parliamentarians to only hold Australian citizenship.

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