Are you a dual citizen with the UK and planning a trip back home soon? The entry requirements for you are changing in February, and not being prepared for them may mean you'll be denied entry at the border. And we certainly don't want that to happen to you. So here's everything you need to know about the new immigration rules for dual citizens of the UK.

If you're British and hold dual citizenship, you currently don't need to hold both a British passport and one from wherever you're also a citizen, for example Australia. You're able to just use an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) like any other Australian.

But, that's not going to be the case much longer.

The UK government will soon require you to have a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement to enter the UK. You'll no longer be able to enter the country with just an ETA on your Australian passport.

Don't worry, there are no changes to be allowed to hold dual citizenship! You'll just need to ensure you have the correct documentation moving forward.

The new rule goes into effect from 25 February, 2026 and applies to all modes of entry. So whether you're flying to the UK, taking a train through the chunnel or a ferry from France or Ireland, these rules will apply to you.

If you're arriving before then, you'll be fine to enter with just your Australian passport and ETA.

If you've already got a trip booked, try not to panic. There are a few options for you!

You can either apply for a British passport as soon as possible, as they can be processed in just a few weeks -- even for Australians.

You're also able to apply for an emergency travel document if your departure date is less than six weeks away.

Lastly, you can apply for a certificate of entitlement. However, this is the most expensive option and does still take. three weeks to process.

If you're already a British citizen, getting a new passport is relatively simple. The processing time is about four weeks, but can take up to 10 weeks. However you'll know if your application requires additional information or an interview within four weeks.

Here's what you'll need to apply from Australia:

You can apply for a British passport online.

If the processing time for a British passport is too slow, you can also apply for an emergency travel document. this is available for British nationals who are outside of the UK and need to travel within six weeks.

To use this service thoguh, you must have held a UK passport that was issued on or after 1 January, 2006.

A certificate of entitlement is available for citizens of the United Kingdom as an alternative to holding a second passport, and it's valid for as long as your connected passport is valid. This certificate will go into your non-British passport.

The current cost is £589, which is actually much more than the cost of getting a new British passport. However, the processing time is shorter. It takes about three weeks to get this processed, according to the UK government's website.

Outside of the UK, you'll need to apply online via the UK government's website.

Now that all the paperwork is much clearer, it's time to get back to the fun stuff! If you need help with booking flights to the UK, hotels or activities, we're the experts in that! Traveloka also has plenty of discounts to help make your journey more affordable... Especially if you're needing to pay for a last-minute passport.

Written by: Alex Keshen

The content strategist and SEO lead for Traveloka Australia, Alex manages the blog and other pages across the site. An avid traveller, digital content creator and writer, she’s contributed to publications such as Australian Women's Weekly, Marie Claire, Elle, Gourmet Traveller, Finder and Explore Travel… and has found the time to visit 50+ countries while doing it. She loves good flight sale and will share some of the best ones she can find right here on our Explore blog. Follow her regular Deals of the Week column for the latest bargains on flights, hotels and more.