Home Office Reverses Dual National Passport Rule for UK Entry

The Home Office has reversed its rule requiring British dual nationals with EU settlement status to use a British passport for UK entry, easing travel restrictions for thousands affected post-Brexit.

Home Office Revises Dual National Border Rules

British dual nationals who are EU citizens with post-Brexit settlement status in the UK will no longer be required to present a British passport to airlines when returning to the UK, the Home Office has announced. This marks a significant reversal of its previously controversial dual national border regulations.

The update, which critics have described as being "hidden away" on a government webpage, follows weeks of controversy surrounding new rules implemented on 25 February. These rules mandated that British dual nationals must present either a British passport or a certificate of entitlement, which costs £589, before boarding a flight to the UK.

Thousands have been impacted by these regulations, including EU citizens with settlement status in the UK who had successfully applied for British citizenship but had not yet received their British passports. Under the previous rules, these individuals were effectively barred from entering the country but are now permitted to return.

An updated Home Office citizenship webpage states: "If you got British citizenship after settling in the UK under the EU settlement scheme, you can travel to the UK using a valid: passport of your other nationality; [or] national identity card from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland."

Personal Impact: Jelena's Experience

Jelena, a Latvian-British dual national, discovered the rule change through a social media post by the campaign group the3million. She expressed being "absolutely devastated and angry" that the change was only made at this time.

Last September, Jelena and her British husband had booked a "trip of a lifetime" to South America scheduled for the end of March. Her plans had already been disrupted with significant financial and emotional consequences.

A chartered surveyor by profession, Jelena completed her British citizenship test in November but had not yet received her British passport. Not wanting to miss the trip, after consulting with her firm where she serves as an associate director, the couple decided to proceed with the holiday. Jelena planned to return to Latvia rather than the UK and wait there for up to 24 weeks for her British passport to arrive.

"I was meant to be excited about the upcoming holiday, but instead I had to stress about this and rearrange travel," she said.

"I have already spent £2,000 on the naturalisation process, and the certificate is an extra £600, and as it stood, after South America I wouldn’t be able to return to my flat which we own in a country I have lived in for nearly 16 years," she added.

Jelena received an email two days ago informing her that she no longer needed to present a British passport to enter the UK.

"I don’t really understand how people were meant to know about these changes," she said, adding that while she was pleased the Home Office had reconsidered, the experience left a "bitter aftertaste."

Jelena sitting on rocks with a vew of tall trees, a clear blue lake and snowy mountains behind — The first rule change meant Jelena had to return from South America to Latvia instead of the UK, where she has lived for 16 years with her British husband. Photograph: Jelena

Campaign Group Response and Criticism

The3million welcomed the rule change but criticized the Home Office for inadequate communication. The campaign group was notified of the change via email on 10 March.

They stated that the rule change was "hidden away" on a government webpage but was not reflected on the main Home Office citizenship page.

"We are really pleased that this change will help those who faced an effective travel ban following their naturalisation ceremony," said Monique Hawkins, head of policy and advocacy at the3million. "But it is so disappointing that these changes come without any consultation, and several weeks too late.

"The changes are hidden away on obscure Home Office pages. People are hearing about it from us, rather than from the government."

Hawkins also noted that the rule change does not apply to British nationals in the EU who naturalised post-Brexit, EU citizens in the UK who naturalised rather than applied for settled status, or individuals with Windrush independent leave to remain status.

Additional Personal Accounts

Another affected individual, Florence, missed a trip on 28 February to visit her elderly and frail father in France because she had naturalised but was awaiting her British passport.

"My husband went without me to France to see the family while I applied for the British passport. The ferry ticket had to be amended and obviously cost more. I stayed here and went to work instead," Florence said.

"Now, I hear that the government has made a U-turn. Why now? There was plenty of evidence back on the 25th [of February] that people would be stuck," she added.