The Home Office has announced a significant policy reversal that will allow certain dual nationals to use their European Union passports when entering the United Kingdom. This change comes after weeks of controversy surrounding new regulations that took effect on February 25, 2026.
Revised Entry Requirements for EU Citizens
Under the updated guidance, EU citizens who obtained British citizenship after settling in the UK through the EU settlement scheme can now travel to the UK using either a valid passport from their other nationality or a national identity card from EU countries, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland. This marks a departure from the previous requirement that mandated British dual nationals present either a British passport or a certificate of entitlement costing £589 before entering the country.
Impact on Affected Individuals
The original rule had created substantial difficulties for EU citizens who had gained British citizenship but had not yet obtained British passports. Campaigners warned that these individuals risked being denied entry to the UK, despite having legal status in the country.
One 34-year-old Latvian woman living in Glasgow shared her experience with BBC News, explaining that she delayed applying for a British passport after becoming a citizen because she needed her Latvian passport to travel during the Christmas period. "As it stands, after South America, I won't be able to return to my flat [in Glasgow], which me and my husband own, in the country I have lived in for nearly 16 years, studied in and paid taxes," she stated.
She added, "I'm lucky that my employer is flexible about me working from abroad - if that wasn't the case, I wouldn't have a job because of this. If I hadn't applied for citizenship and just had an EU passport, I would be in a better situation than I am now." The woman expressed feeling betrayed, noting, "The irony is that I've chosen to be part of this country but it feels like I'm being deported."
Communication Failures and Campaigner Criticism
Petra Gartzen, a UK-German dual national, highlighted the poor communication surrounding the initial rule changes. "They changed the rules when I was already in Spain. There was no lead up, no major announcement - I found out about it from a Facebook post, and just thought, now what?" she recounted.
Campaign group the3million, which represents EU citizens in the UK, has strongly criticized the government's handling of the situation. Monique Hawkins, the group's head of policy and advocacy, stated, "The Home Office has not done enough to warn dual nationals of the serious impact this will have on them." The organization has been vocal about the need for clearer communication and consideration of how policy changes affect individuals who have built their lives in the UK.
The policy reversal represents a significant development for thousands of dual nationals who had faced uncertainty about their ability to travel to and from the UK. While the Home Office has now clarified the entry requirements, questions remain about how future immigration and travel policies will be communicated to affected communities.
