Thousands of Australians face new UK travel rules from today as the British Government rolls out updated (and controversial) entry laws.
From 25 February, Australians with dual British or Irish citizenship must enter the United Kingdom with either a valid UK passport or another valid passport that includes a certificate of entitlement (COE).
The new rule comes just over a year after the UK government mandated a new law requiring Australian visitors to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the country (for short stays). But the sticking point is that from today, dual British and Irish citizens won’t be able to apply for ETAs.
According to DFAT’s Smartraveller website, the UK government has advised that these requirements will be strictly enforced from today.
“Dual citizens may not be able to board a flight to the UK without a valid document,” it states.
New advice
However, in a recent development, the UK Home Office said that it would now allow airlines “at their own discretion” to accept “some expired British passport as alternative documentation”.
But anyone who knows what border force discretion is like, probably won’t feel confident in this scenario.
“We recognise that this is a significant change for carriers and travellers,” the Home Office told UK media last week.
In good news for many GB-bound Aussies, Qantas has already confirmed it will temporarily follow government advice and accept expired post-1989 British passports from dual citizens who don’t yet hold a valid passport under the new UK entry rules.
Not alone
The UK Government says the new rules around ETAs bring it into line with other countries’ entry laws – including those of Australia, the US and Canada – and are necessary to modernise border controls.
“The ETA scheme is a vital part of our work to strengthen the UK’s border security, helping to deliver a more efficient and modern service that works for both visitors and the British public,” UK’s Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Mike Tapp said.
“I’d urge anyone wanting to travel to the UK to ensure they are travel ready and have the right permission, to make their journey much smoother.”
However, Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) CEO Dean Long said the changes to the entry rules are “causing chaos”.
“It’s an ill-thought-through strategy that has unfortunately created massive disruption for thousands of people,” Long told the ABC.
“We’re seeing significant disruption, cancellations and financial loss because people did everything right when they booked but have been blindsided by this change.
“Many people don’t even realise they are considered UK citizens until they’re confronted with these requirements.
“They need time to decide whether to renew their passports, apply for certificates, or renounce citizenship altogether.”
Travel advisors’ take
While the new laws have forced many UK-bound Aussies to make quick decisions about how they will travel to Britain, causing consternation for many, some travel advisors aren’t seeing a major impact on customers.
“It looks dramatic on paper, but the reality has been far less exciting,” said Vanessa Tokatly of The Runway Traveller, which is affiliated with Smartflyer Australia and the Virtuoso Travel Network.
“For dual UK/AU travellers who are properly prepared, things are moving along just fine.
“Wildly, I haven’t had a single client run into problems under the new rules, so at this stage the hype is definitely running ahead of the real-world impact,” she tells Karryon.
Another travel advisor, Kennedy & Turner Travel Associates’ Jo Kennedy, says the most crucial step is establishing one’s citizenship status.
“The key question is: Could I be a dual citizen? You might be a British citizen if your parents were born in the UK or a British territory, but the rules vary depending on your birth date and your parents’ nationality. In some cases, British citizenship by descent is automatic,” she tells Karryon.
“The safest first step is to check your circumstances using the UK Government guidance, along with SmartTraveller’s advice for Australians.
“With the right information upfront, travellers can avoid confusion, unnecessary applications, and last‑minute stress.”
Kennedy also stresses the importance of having a good travel advisor on your side.
”As travel advisors, our goal is to prevent any surprises at check‑in, and the biggest issue right now is helping travellers understand whether they could be dual citizens,” she adds.
According to the UK Home Office, an “ETA currently costs £16 [around AU$30] and permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires, whichever is sooner”.
KARRYON UNPACKS: This is a paperwork problem, not a UK travel ban. But it’s catching many dual citizens off guard. For travel advisors, the win is early citizenship checks and clear passport advice. Ask the question upfront. A five-minute conversation now could save a denied boarding later.
