Proving entitlement to travel to the UK when you are a dual British citizen or have the Right of Abode
With the need for non-visa nationals to hold an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) when travelling to the UK becoming an enforced requirement from 25 February 2026, it is important that dual nationals understand their own documentary requirements in order to avoid problems with airline check-in and embarkation for the UK.
If you qualify for British citizenship, the most common way to prove this is to hold a full British passport. Authorities require this to be valid, so if yours has expired, it will not count as evidence of your right to enter the UK. Obtaining your first British passport, or renewing a long-expired one, from overseas can take a considerable time – often several months – so it is important to plan well in advance if this is how you wish to prove your British citizenship.
Some dual citizens of other countries, however, either cannot or do not want to obtain a UK passport. This is most commonly because your other country of nationality does not allow dual citizenship.
Need advice on your Right of Abode UK? Speak to our specialist immigration team.
An alternative is to apply for a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode from the Home Office. So long as you hold the correct supporting documents, this online application is straightforward, and importantly will often be processed more quickly than a British passport application.
From 26 February 2026 the UK government has confirmed that it will issue Certificates of Entitlement in digital format only, streamlining the process yet further, and meaning that it will not be necessary to deposit your foreign passport with the Visa Application Centre either overseas or in the UK when applying. It is not necessary to replace your physical Certificate with a digital one while it remains valid.
You can check official guidance on how to apply for a Certificate of Entitlement here. The cost is £589 wherever you apply, and you will usually receive a decision within 3 weeks of applying overseas, or 8 weeks of applying in the UK. The Certificate is only valid as long as the passport it is either endorsed in (if it is a physical certificate), but will remain valid indefinitely in digital format; you would simply need to update your passport details within your online UK Visas & Immigration account when/if you get a new passport, and upload a new digital photo.
Book a consultation to discuss your Certificate of Entitlement application
Navigating the Complexity of Right of Abode and ETA Proving a Right of Abode UK is often a complex legal process involving detailed historical nationality assessments and specific evidentiary standards. As UK border rules evolve with the new ETA system, ensuring you hold the correct Certificate of Entitlement is vital to avoid travel complications.
Get in touch with Latitude Law today by calling 0300 131 6767 or complete our contact form, and we will get back to you.
