New passport rules for British-Canadian dual citizens: what you need to know

Dual British-Canadian citizens who have long been able to travel to the United Kingdom on a Canadian passport alone will soon need to rethink their travel routine. Starting Wednesday, the U.K. will require dual nationals to show official proof of their British status before they can enter the country.

From Feb. 25, British dual nationals must present a British or Irish passport, a certificate of entitlement tied to a foreign passport, or an emergency travel document in order to enter the country. A Canadian passport alone will no longer be enough to claim entry as a citizen, even for those who have held British nationality their entire lives.

According to the U.K. government website, citizenship can be verified with either a British or Irish passport, an emergency travel document, or any other valid passport with a certificate of entitlement.

The new requirement is part of the U.K.’s rollout of its Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system, designed to strengthen border security by pre-screening visa-exempt visitors with biometric, biographic, and criminality checks before they board flights, allowing authorities to block high-risk individuals remotely.

Applying for ETA will run visitors around $30 and enables visits for the next two years.

British and Irish citizens cannot apply for ETA and will be denied if they do so.

For many dual citizens, routine trips to visit family or friends will now effectively require two passports: a Canadian one to meet rules for returning home and a British passport — or equivalent documentation — to enter the U.K.

Older emigrants or people who left the country as children may face difficulties if they have not kept their paperwork current, while occasional travellers could be caught off guard during the transition.

Dual citizens can apply for a British passport online, costing approximately $185 for the application, plus shipping costs. Processing can take several weeks and may take longer for first-time applications who need to provide additional documentation.

Without a British passport, dual citizens have a few options.

Applying for a British passport remains the most straightforward route. Those who qualify but prefer not to hold one, or need to travel sooner, can apply for a certificate of entitlement, which confirms the right to live and work in the U.K. while linked to a foreign passport.

Applications are typically processed within 3 weeks and allow travellers to keep their existing passport during processing

However, at roughly $1,100, a certificate of entitlement is significantly more expensive than a passport and must be reapplied for when a new foreign passport is issued, making it less practical for frequent travellers.

Travelling solely as a Canadian visitor is not considered a reliable workaround, as British citizens are expected to demonstrate their status and may be refused board if they cannot.

Airlines may make exceptions for expired passports, but are not required to do so.

The new rules do not affect citizenship itself. Dual nationals still retain the right to live and work in the U.K.

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