New advice has been given to Aussies ahead of significant changes to the United Kingdom’s entry requirements, with dual Australian–UK citizens warned they could be refused boarding or denied entry if they do not hold the correct paperwork.
“If you’re planning travel to the UK, these changes may impact you,” SmartTraveller’s updated advice on Tuesday states.
The updated advice from Smartraveller comes as the UK prepares to introduce its new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system from February 25.
Under the new rules, Australians who also hold British citizenship will no longer be permitted to enter the UK as tourists using their Australian passports once the changes take effect.
This means people with British citizenship will be required to enter the UK using a British passport, rather than travelling on a foreign passport as a visitor, as many dual citizens do.
The new digital ETA system is designed to enforce this requirement and is expected to affect a substantial number of dual citizens.
According to 2023 data, approximately 1.1 million UK-born people live in Australia.
Smartraveller has advised Aussies with dual citizenship who intend to travel to the UK to either apply for a British passport or obtain a Certificate of Entitlement, which allows individuals to travel on their Australian passport.
It also offers a third option of “renouncing your British citizenship if you don’t want to be a dual citizen”.
UK-born Queenslander and travel expert Annabel Symonds previously told Yahoo News she believes travellers without the appropriate passport or digital approval – such as a paid Certificate of Entitlement – will be stopped from boarding their flights.
“They are warning people that it could happen,” she told Yahoo News Australia, adding she’s experienced it in the past.
Annabel adds that despite just weeks until enforcement begins, there is still a lot of confusion.
“I don’t work for immigration, but it does seem like a lot of people aren’t really aware of what’s going on,” the Sunshine Coast woman said.
Annabel, who runs a popular travel blog, said the situation can be even more complicated for families.
Requirements may vary depending on when children were born, whether parents were married at the time and whether children qualify as British citizens by descent – in which case they would also require a British passport to travel to the UK.
She encouraged dual nationals to carry all valid passports when travelling.
“I always carry both,” she said.
“I’ve heard stories of families being separated, with partners having to stay overseas for months before getting back into Australia,” she said.
“So it’s definitely worth having both passports with you whenever you travel.”
Previously, there had been no strictly enforced legal requirement for British citizens to enter the UK using a British passport.
Under the existing system, some dual nationals – particularly those holding passports from visa-exempt countries such as Australia, Canada or European Union member states – have been able to travel on their non-British passports without obtaining an ETA.
Find out more on Smartraveller’s website.
Images: Shutterstock
