US-UK dual citizen UK passport rules

Published on February 25, 2026

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US-UK dual citizen UK passport rules for US expats in 2026

If you are a US expat living in the UK and you also hold British citizenship, there is a travel change you cannot ignore. From 25 February 2026, a US-UK dual citizen travelling to the UK will usually need one of the following documents:

A valid British passport, or
A foreign passport (such as a US passport) that has a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode linked to it

A US passport by itself is no longer enough to board transport to the UK, and you cannot apply for a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) if you are British.

Now let’s walk through what actually changed, why it matters, and what you should do before your next trip.

Does a US-UK dual citizen need a British passport to enter the UK in 2026?

Yes. From 25 February 2026, a US-UK dual citizen needs to prove British nationality before boarding transport (flight, train, or ferry) to the UK. Without recognized proof, you may not be able to board.

That proof is normally a British passport. Alternatively, it can be a foreign passport with a valid Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode.

A US passport alone does not allow airlines to confirm that you are exempt from UK entry permission checks.

What changed on 25 February 2026?

From this date, airlines must digitally verify that the passport you are travelling on shows you are exempt from ETA requirements before allowing you to board.

The UK completed the rollout of its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system in 2025-2026. Under this system, most non-British travellers must obtain permission before travelling to the UK.

British citizens are exempt from ETA. However, carriers must now verify that exemption digitally before allowing someone to board.

In practice, that means:

Airlines check whether a traveller needs an ETA.
If no ETA is attached to the passport, the system checks whether the person is British.
If there is no proof of British status linked to the passport, boarding can be refused.
If the passport you are using does not show recognized proof of British status, the airline may refuse boarding.

Previously, many dual nationals travelling on visa-free passports, including US passports, were generally able to board without issue. At the time, verification relied more on manual checks and less on automated digital systems. That flexibility has now ended as digital checks are now standard.

The law did not suddenly remove your right to enter the UK. The process for proving that right has tightened.

Note: For travel on or before 24 February 2026, transitional arrangements allowed many British dual citizens to continue travelling on a non-UK passport without disruption.

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Does this affect you as a US-UK dual citizen living in the UK?

If you live in the UK, hold both US and British citizenship, and travel internationally, this change applies to you. Many US expats in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and elsewhere have long relied on their US passport for travel. Some did not renew their British passport because they assumed it was optional.

Technically, your citizenship status has not changed. You still have the Right of Abode in the UK.

However, airlines are not making decisions based on your understanding of the law. They rely on digital verification systems. If the system cannot confirm your exemption from ETA requirements, you may not board.

What documents can a US-UK dual citizen use to enter the UK?

After 25 February 2026, a US-UK dual citizen travelling to the UK will generally need one of the following documents:

Document	Accepted for travel to the UK?
Valid British passport	Yes
US passport alone	No
US passport with Certificate of Entitlement	Yes
UK ETA	Not available to British citizens
Irish passport	Yes

This is where many people get confused. They think, “If Americans need an ETA, I’ll just apply for one.” That is not possible if you are British. The system will not issue one.

What is a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode?

A Certificate of Entitlement confirms that you have the Right of Abode in the UK. In other words, you have the legal right to live in and enter the UK without immigration control.

It is linked to your non-UK passport, like a US passport. It does not grant citizenship but confirms a status you already have.

From February 2026, certificates will be issued in digital form and must be linked to the passport you use for travel. Carriers verify the link before departure. However, this is usually a minority choice.

How much does it cost?

As of 2026:

Certificate of Entitlement application fee: approximately £589
Standard British passport renewal: approximately £94.50 (overseas fees can differ)

The difference is significant. For most US-UK dual citizens, renewing a British passport is far more economical and administratively simpler. The certificate tends to make sense only in specific personal circumstances.

There is also a practical angle. Travelling with a British passport avoids the need to explain a linked digital status or documentation at check-in.

Why is the UK enforcing this now?

The ETA system is part of a broader shift toward pre-travel clearance. The UK government has moved toward a model where:

Travel permission is confirmed before departure
Airlines are responsible for ensuring that passengers have proper documentation
Digital status is checked automatically

Under this system, the UK does not want travellers to arrive at the border and sort things out there. The decision happens earlier.

From a compliance perspective, this is consistent with trends seen globally. More automation. Less discretion at the airport counter.

A scenario to illustrate the risk:

Imagine you are a US expat in London with both citizenships. Your British passport expired three years ago. You have travelled in and out of the UK on your US passport without issue. You book a flight back from New York to Heathrow in March 2026.

At check-in, the airline system flags that US passport holders need an ETA. You cannot apply for one because you are British. There is no British passport linked to your booking. There is no Certificate of Entitlement linked to your US passport.

The airline cannot confirm travel permission. That is where delays or denial of boarding can occur. Your citizenship status remains unchanged. However, without recognized proof linked to your passport, the airline cannot verify that you are exempt from ETA requirements and may refuse boarding.

Why this matters for US expats

Dual citizenship does not change US tax obligations.

While this article focuses on UK travel, there is a parallel worth mentioning. Holding British citizenship does not remove your US filing obligations. If you are a US-UK dual citizen:

You are still subject to US citizenship-based taxation
You must file annual US tax returns if you meet filing thresholds
You may also have UK tax obligations based on residence

Travel documentation and tax compliance operate in different systems. However, they share a common theme: assumptions can be costly. If you prefer to rely on your US passport, understand the cost and structure of a Certificate of Entitlement.

Either way, treat this as part of responsible cross-border planning.

If you are a US expat navigating both US and UK systems, staying ahead of procedural changes is part of staying organised. The 2026 UK travel enforcement update is one of those moments where a small administrative step can prevent a much larger inconvenience.

FAQs

Can I enter the UK by land or through the Common Travel Area using only my US passport?

If you travel to Ireland first and then enter the UK through the Common Travel Area, the airline check may not operate in the same way. However, the legal requirement to prove British status still applies, and relying on routing as a workaround carries risk.

The enforcement change primarily affects carriers such as airlines, ferries, and train operators that must verify travel permission before departure. However, UK border control still expects British citizens to prove their Right of Abode.

The safest approach is to carry a valid British passport or a linked Certificate of Entitlement regardless of route.
What happens if my British passport expires while I am outside the UK?

An expired British passport does not cancel your citizenship. However, it may prevent you from boarding transport back to the UK if you do not have alternative proof of Right of Abode.

If you are abroad with an expired British passport and no Certificate of Entitlement linked to your US passport, you may need to renew your passport from overseas before returning.

This is one of the more practical reasons to monitor passport validity closely.
Can I hold both a British passport and a Certificate of Entitlement?

Yes, but in most cases it would be unnecessary. A British passport already proves your Right of Abode. A Certificate of Entitlement is typically used by British citizens who do not hold or do not wish to use a British passport.

Holding both would rarely provide additional benefit.
Does this change affect children who are US-UK dual citizens?

Yes. If a child holds both US and British citizenship, the same rules apply. A US passport alone may not be sufficient after 25 February 2026, as airlines may not be able to verify your exemption.

Parents should ensure that children travelling to the UK have a valid British passport or appropriate proof of Right of Abode linked to their non-UK passport.
Is this likely to change again soon?

There is no indication that the UK intends to reverse the digital verification model. The direction of travel globally is toward more automated pre-departure screening, not less.

While procedural adjustments may occur, US-UK dual citizens should assume that digital verification before boarding is now the standard.

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US-UK dual citizen UK passport rules

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