It’s been just over a year since the UK introduced new entry rules that require Aussies to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the country. But while dual Australian-British and Australian-Irish citizens are exempt from the visa waiver, from next month, they may face a new hurdle for their UK travel plans.
From 25 February, dual citizens will only be allowed to enter the UK on their British or Irish passport, or through a certificate of entitlement (COE) in their Australian or other valid passport, which comes with a price tag of £589 (about $1,180).
Given that dual citizens are unable to obtain an ETA or visa to enter the country, this means that if their British or Irish passport has expired and they’re travelling without a COE in their Aussie passport, they may not even be able to board a flight to the UK.
With the UK government expected to strictly enforce these requirements, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) has advised these dual citizens to “allow ample time before departure to ensure you have a valid document to enter the UK”.
“The UK can refuse you entry without a visa, ETA, or evidence of British or Irish dual citizenship,” it states.
The only other option for these travellers is to renounce their UK citizenship, which comes at a cost of £482, or $966.
The reaction to the new rule among Australian dual citizens has been mixed, ranging from ambivalence to genuine concern.
“I always go into the UK on my British passport. And kept my British passport valid. So it’s a non issue. I don’t see the issue,” one user said on the Smartraveller Facebook page.
Another British Australian, Ian Fletcher, says his April holiday to the UK may not go ahead due to the new passport laws, the ABC reported.
Mr Fletcher said he hasn’t held a UK passport for 25 years and will now have to “rush” to get one.
“When you read the online documentation saying that a British passport could take between six and 13 weeks … we are really bordering on not making the flight,” he remarked.
To get a new British passport, he will need to fork out a few hundred dollars to obtain a copy of his UK birth certificate.
“I only have an Australian passport, and for 20 years only travelled on an Australian passport. I don’t need a British passport,” he said.
Over the holiday period, the Australian Passport Office upped the cost for a passport to $422 (adult). Meanwhile, the Henley Passport Index 2026 shows Australia has slipped to equal seventh place globally for passport power, down from equal sixth last year.
KARRYON UNPACKS: If you sell UK travel, this is a big one. Many dual citizens can’t wing it anymore. Passport checks matter, timelines matter and agents are best placed to prevent costly, trip-stopping surprises.
