Extract from ABC News
Australian British citizens must have a UK passport to enter the UK. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)
New passport entry rules for Britain will come into effect today despite calls from dual citizens and the travel sector for a delay on implementation.
Last year the UK government announced that from February 25 travellers with British citizenship must enter the UK with a valid UK passport.
This week it quietly issued temporary guidance to say British dual citizens may be able to use their expired British passport as well as a valid one from another country to enter.
For hundreds of thousands of Australians who hold dual citizenship and plan to travel to the UK, it is a lot of information to make sense of.
Here's a refresher on what you need to know.
What are the new rules for UK passports?
From February 25 UK and Irish dual citizens will be prevented from entering the UK using solely a passport from a different country, such as an Australian passport.
They will need to use a valid UK or Irish passport or another valid passport containing a certificate of entitlement (COE).
At the discretion of airlines and other carriers, passengers may now be permitted to travel with an expired UK or Irish passport along with a second valid passport that contains an ETA.
This means dual citizens who do not have a valid or expired British passport will have to choose whether to pay for a new British passport, the COE, or renounce their British citizenship.
Costs for each option are:
- A UK passport costs about $190
- A certificate of entitlement costs $1,100
- Renouncing UK citizenship costs $968
Can I have dual Australian and British citizenship?
You can have dual citizenship, but you have to enter the UK with a British passport or with a COE in your Australian passport.
Many countries do not allow dual citizenship, but the UK does.
This means you can apply for foreign citizenship and keep your British citizenship.
Existing British citizens can apply for foreign citizenship without forfeiting their rights in the UK.
You can check your British citizenship status here.
Can a British citizen enter the UK on an Australian passport?
A British citizen can enter the UK on an Australian or any other foreign passport if they have a COE.
A COE is a document placed in a foreign passport to prove that the holder has the right to stay in the UK.
It allows you to live and work in the country without immigration restrictions or a time limit.
Every time your passport is renewed, your COE will need to be as well.
Can a UK citizen hold two passports?
Yes, but you will need to enter the UK with a UK passport or have a COE.
On re-entering Australia, citizens need an Australian passport.
In simple terms, when you re-enter the UK, you need your British passport. When you return to Australia, you will need your Australian passport.
If you have another foreign passport and a UK passport, you will need to enter the UK with your UK passport or have a COE in your foreign passport.
How can I get a new UK passport in Australia?
You can apply for a British passport online.
You can start the application process on this UK government webpage.
Here are some of the requirements:
- Applications from overseas must be lodged online. Paper forms are not available at Australian post offices and there is no "check and send" service outside the UK
- Applications can be paid for by card only
- You can get a digital passport photo taken at the post office, but you can also take the picture yourself as part of the application process
- You may be asked to send physical documents to the UK, potentially including original birth certificates, your old passport, and colour copies of Australian (or other) passports
How do I renew an expired British passport?
Apply online at the UK government website.
You will need to send your old passport (if you still have it) to the UK.
If you've changed your name, you'll also need to bring proof of your new name (such as a marriage certificate).
If your passport is lost, you'll also need the name and email address of someone who can confirm your identity.
I'm British, but my children were born in Australia. How will this affect them?
British citizenship is normally automatically passed down one generation to children born outside the UK if one of the parents is a citizen at the time of birth.
As a result, you can be a British citizen but not hold a UK passport or even know you're considered a citizen.
It is likely your child will need to apply for a British passport or a COE.
They can also renounce their citizenship.
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