Did You Know Travel Might Get Complicated For British Dual Nationals In The UAE? Here’s Why!

It seems that British citizens who also hold another nationality could be stopped from travelling to the UK. Well, this is under the new border rules, which are linked to the rollout of the electronic travel authorisation system. As a result, British dual nationals in the UAE might just face complicated travel ahead.

British Dual Nationals In The UAE May Face Complications Travelling To The UK

Under the changes as revealed in a report of the Gulf News, the dual British nationals must present a valid British passport or a foreign passport that is endorsed with a certificate of entitlement in order to enter the UK. Those who failed to do so, can be refused boarding by the airlines, rail companies, or even ferry operators. The international carriers will now be required to check that all the passengers have the valid permissions. They need to travel to the UK. Moreover, they must also ensure that there are checks being carried out for visa nationals.

Travellers Must Hold An ETA

As per the British Embassy in the UAE, as mentioned in the report, these changes aim to digitise the immigration system in the country. And with the aim of streamlining the digital immigration system, the focus is to make it quicker and more secure for millions of people who pass through the country’s border every year.

This development is coinciding with the mandatory introduction of ETA for non-visa nationals from several countries. Wednesday, February 25th onwards, travellers who have previously entered the UK without a visa must hold an ETA, that cost £16. Additionally, airlines can also refuse to board passengers who do not have one. This ETA is required for passengers as they transit through the UK.

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This Change Concerns Dual Nationals

Moreover, ETAs also allow a visit of up to six months for business, tourism, and short-term study. The change is especially concerning the dual nationals who have continued to travel in and out of the UK. So, basically, without a British passport, they may be blocked from boarding transport to the UK. And since neither document is issued automatically when someone becomes a British citizen, it means that several long-term residents have never applied for them. For an adult, a passport costs AED496, while the alternative certificate for entitlement costs AED2,966. And it can take up to eight weeks to obtain.

Even with an ETA, however, the travellers must clear the passport control. They can be refused entry if any other issue arises at the border. Moreover, the government has said that the public information advising dual nationals to carry the correct documents has been available to the public since October 2024.

So, with these big updates, travelling to the UK for dual British nationals in the UAE has just got a little more complicated.

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