Thursday, February 19, 2026 l Dalena Reporters
The United Kingdom Home Office has unveiled a controversial change to its passport and border control requirements that could result in foreign-born children including those of British parents being denied entry into the UK if they do not hold a valid British travel document or qualifying certificate. The change, part of wider immigration-system modernization, is set to take effect on 25 February 2026.
Under the new directive, British nationals with dual citizenship who do not present a British passport at the point of boarding will face denial of boarding by airlines or be refused entry by border officials, even if they hold other citizenships. According to the Home Office, this requirement extends to children and babies, a stipulation critics argue could unfairly impact families where overseas-born children might not yet possess a UK passport.
The policy shift aligns with the UK’s rollout of an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system a digital pre-travel screening designed to enhance border security. While British or Irish passport holders remain exempt from ETA requirements, British dual nationals using non-UK passports will no longer be able to board flights based on visa-free status alone, triggering widespread urgency among expatriate families to secure proper documentation.
Travel and immigration observers have reported a global “rush” among millions of dual British citizens scrambling to renew or obtain British passports before the rules take effect. Many have historically relied on non-British passports for travel to the UK, especially from countries with visa-free arrangements, but that option will be eliminated under the new measures.
Critics — including lawmakers and campaign groups have denounced the abrupt change as poorly communicated and burdensome, particularly for families who may face long processing times for passports or costly certificates of entitlement to prove their right of abode. Some expatriates fear trip cancellations, disrupted family visits, and separation from relatives if adequate travel documents are not in hand.
In response to these concerns, industry voices have called for transitional protections or a “grace period” to mitigate hardship for affected travellers. However, the Home Office has maintained that the new requirements are essential to delivering “modern, secure, and seamless” border processes despite widespread confusion and operational challenges reported by carriers and dual nationals alike.
The unfolding policy change marks a significant moment in UK border policy, prompting reassessments of travel planning among British dual citizens and highlighting broader tensions between administrative reform and individual mobility rights.