Australian travellers with British nationality should take heed, with new UK entry rules taking effect from 25 February 2026 that could prevent non-compliant passengers from boarding flights out of Australia.
From 25 February, all travellers entering the United Kingdom must hold either a valid British or Irish passport, or an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). However, under the updated directive, dual British citizens — including an estimated 250,000 Australian residents who also hold UK nationality — can no longer travel on their Australian passport with an ETA.
Instead, they must present a current British passport at check-in. Alternatively, they can apply for a Certificate of Entitlement (COE), which costs £589 and can take several weeks to process. Airlines and ferry operators have been instructed to deny boarding to passengers who fail to meet the new requirements, placing the compliance burden squarely on travellers before departure from Australia.
Renewing British passports from Australia now exceeds $1,100 for a family of four, excluding courier fees.
British consular officials have acknowledged potential processing backlogs, raising concerns that some Australians could be stranded in Australia — or even in transit countries — if documentation is incomplete.
For Australian–British dual nationals, the message is clear: check documentation well before departure. With airlines enforcing the policy at check-in, last-minute fixes are unlikely.
