The UK government has made a last minute adjustment to its new Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme after criticism from British dual nationals who feared being stranded by tougher entry rules.
Under the updated guidance, airlines may accept expired British passports at their own discretion, alongside a valid foreign passport.
The concession comes days before the February 25 deadline requiring all British citizens to present either a valid British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement before boarding a flight to the UK.
The ETA scheme, introduced last year and costing £10 for visitors from countries that previously enjoyed visa free access, has been billed by the Home Office as a security upgrade.
For travellers with a current British passport, nothing changes. The problem has arisen for dual nationals who allowed their British passports to lapse or who have never applied for one despite holding citizenship by birth or descent.
Under the new enforcement rules, such individuals are flagged as British during airline checks and therefore cannot apply for an ETA as foreign nationals. Instead, they must travel on a British passport or obtain a Certificate of Entitlement, which costs £580. A standard online passport application costs £94.50.
Previously, dual nationals could enter the UK using their non British passport if they did not require a visa, sometimes supported by documents such as an expired passport, birth certificate or naturalisation papers.
The tighter checks triggered confusion and frustration online, with many travellers scrambling to renew passports in time for upcoming trips.
Immigration lawyer Gary McIndoe said the uproar stemmed from the higher cost and complexity of the Certificate of Entitlement compared with the ETA, which can be secured online in minutes.
The certificate requires applicants to upload extensive supporting evidence of birth, registration or descent, adding what he described as layers of stress to the process.
Campaigners welcomed the Home Office decision to allow airlines discretion over expired passports but said it offers limited reassurance, as final decisions rest with carriers.
Ryanair confirmed it would contact the government’s carrier support hub to verify cases where a passenger claims British nationality but cannot present a valid passport.
The Home Office said it had been clear that dual British citizens must travel with a valid passport or certificate, but acknowledged the change is significant for both travellers and airlines.
Courtesy of the BBC
Picture: Change to passport regulations would cause delays
