Starting February 25, 2026, dual Canadian-British citizens will face new hurdles when entering the United Kingdom. New rules mandate that all citizens, including dual nationals, must use a British or Irish passport to enter the UK. This sudden change has left many Canadians with dual citizenship scrambling to obtain the necessary documentation.
The updated entry requirements have caught many dual citizens off guard, as the announcement was made quietly in the fall. Sarah Byron, a dual citizen living in Montreal who has regularly traveled to England using her Canadian passport, expressed her shock and frustration. Without a valid British or Irish passport, dual nationals face the prospect of being denied entry. Obtaining a certificate of entitlement, an alternative document proving the right to live in the UK, can cost between $800 and over $1,000.
The new rules are part of broader changes to entry requirements in the United Kingdom. Some UK Members of Parliament are calling for a grace period, warning that the "haphazard communication" surrounding the changes could leave travelers stranded. In a statement, the Home Office said that carriers may allow dual nationals to travel with an expired British passport, but it would be at their own discretion.
The changes have sparked outrage among British dual nationals living abroad, with some considering renouncing their British citizenship altogether. For Canadians with close ties to the UK, the new regulations present an unwelcome obstacle to travel.
