With less than a week before new UK border rules take effect, an emotional case reported by The Guardian on 20 February 2026 has highlighted the headaches facing an estimated 250,000 Australian residents who also hold—or are entitled to—British citizenship.
From 25 February dual nationals must enter the United Kingdom on a valid British passport or obtain a £575 ‘Certificate of Entitlement to Right of Abode’. Previously, many Australians born in Britain, or with British parents, travelled on their Australian passport without issue. The Home Office argues the tighter regime will reduce identity fraud and speed e-Gate processing once the UK rolls out its ETA system for non-visa nationals later this year.
The rule is already causing distress. Annie Case, a UK-born dual national living in the Netherlands, told The Guardian she was blocked from visiting her terminally ill mother because her British passport had lapsed and there is no fast-track appointment until March. Former Brexit secretary David Davis and the Liberal Democrats have urged Home Secretary John Healey to create a grace period for humanitarian visits.
For Australian travel managers the change introduces complexity: staff with latent British citizenship may suddenly need a second passport, and airlines could deny boarding in Sydney or Singapore if documentation does not match new carrier guidance. Corporate mobility teams should immediately:
1. Audit talent databases for employees with UK birthplace or parentage;
2. Advise affected staff to renew or apply for a British passport well ahead of trips;
3. Review assignment contracts where right-of-abode status was assumed but not documented.
At a practical level, travelers who cannot spare hours navigating government portals may find specialist concierge services invaluable. VisaHQ, for example, offers an online platform that can manage British passport renewals, Right-of-Abode certificates, and other travel documents for Australian-based dual nationals, coordinating courier pickups and embassy appointments on your behalf. Their Australia office details are at https://www.visahq.com/australia/ and the same team can also advise on the forthcoming UK ETA so you can keep trips on schedule.
Beyond humanitarian concerns, immigration lawyers warn that using the Certificate of Entitlement route can take up to six weeks and still requires applicants to surrender their passport—posing a business-mobility risk during processing.
