NEW passport rules are being introduced from today – and anyone breaking then could be banned from their flight.
From today (February 25), dual national passport holders can no longer use their foreign passport to enter the UK.
Affecting as many as 1.2million people who hold more than one passport in the UK, they must now use a valid British passport when arriving into the UK.
Anyone without this must instead have a certificate of entitlement, which costs £589.
Passengers trying to enter the country by plane, ferry or train without this risks being banned from travelling.
A Home Office spokesperson previously explained: “From February 25, 2026, all dual British citizens will need to present either a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement to avoid delays at the border.”
Many have slammed the new rules, which were only announced earlier this month, for not allowing enough time for people living abroad to buy a new passport.
New British passports can take up to three weeks, while first time applications can take as long as 10 weeks.
The government suggested that airlines may allow passengers to travel with an expired passport, however this is at their own discretion.
A spokesperson told The Sun: “At their own discretion, carriers can accept an expired British passport as alternative documentation.”
Not only that, but it must be no older than an expiry of 1989 or later.
They also confirmed that anyone who previously held a British passport, but it has now expired, can instead get an emergency travel document to enter the UK instead.
The new rules are in line with the electronic travel authorisation (ETA), which has also launched from today.
Any non-British national must now may for the £16 ETA to enter the country.
Lasting up to six months, it will be required from people who are from destinations like Europe, the US and Australia.
Anyone who is a dual national cannot apply for an ETA under the new rules.
Brits will not need an ETA when returning to the UK.
Here are some other passport rules you need to be aware of.
And we explain how to apply for your child’s first passport.