From February 25, new passport regulations will come into effect for people who hold both British and Irish citizenship. The changes mean dual citizens will no longer be able to enter the United Kingdom using a passport from another country, such as an Australian passport. Instead, they must travel using a valid British or Irish passport, or a foreign passport that includes a Certificate of Entitlement.
The rule change has caused concern among Australians who also hold UK or Irish citizenship and plan to travel in the coming months.
Many are now being forced to decide whether to renew their British or Irish passport, apply for a Certificate of Entitlement, or renounce their UK or Irish citizenship altogether.
A Certificate of Entitlement, or COE, is a document placed inside a foreign passport that proves the holder has the right to live and work in the UK without immigration restrictions. It must be renewed each time the passport is renewed. Applying for a COE from outside the UK or Ireland costs £589, or about $1,180 Australian dollars.
Anyone without a valid British or Irish passport or a COE will not be allowed to board a flight or ship to the UK after February 25. Airlines and shipping companies could face fines if they allow passengers to travel without the correct documents.
The least expensive option is to renew their UK passport every 10 years which cost about £108.
The other option is to renounce citizenship but the cost of this is £482 and people can only give it up if they already have citizenship elsewhere or will get another citizenship after giving it up.
The new rules come as the UK also introduces an electronic travel authorisation, or ETA, for visitors from visa-exempt countries such as Australia and the United States.
The ETA will cost about $32 and will be required for anyone entering England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland for short stays or tourism. It will be valid for two years or until the traveller’s passport expires. Applications can be made through the UK ETA app, and most are approved within 24 hours. Visit – www.gov.uk/eta.
Travellers who hold a British passport, a COE, or permission to live, work or study in the UK will not need an ETA. Those simply transiting through a UK airport without passing border control are also exempt.
Citizenship expert Associate Professor Dannielle Ireland-Piper from the Australian National University said the situation highlights how complex dual citizenship can be. She explained that international law does not set a single standard for determining citizenship, leaving each country to decide its own rules. As a result, people may not always be aware of their citizenship status.
“To figure out if you are a British citizen, you have to follow the British system to work it out,” she said.
The new regulations are expected to affect thousands of Australians with ties to the UK or Ireland, many of whom are now rushing to check their citizenship status and travel documents before the February deadline.
If you are a dual citizen and plan to visit the UK this year the cheapest option is to renew your British passport.
