An IMGlobalWealth.com News Report
Thousands of British-French dual nationals living in France are grappling with new UK travel rules that quietly came into force in February 2026, forcing many to reconsider how they travel to Britain.
“French government data indicates that roughly 16,000 Britons acquired French nationality over the past seven years”
Under the updated regime, dual British citizens must present a valid UK passport when entering the country. Travelling solely on another passport, such as a French one, is no longer sufficient. Alternatively, travellers may use a foreign passport only if it contains a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode, a document that costs £589.
The rule change is linked to Britain’s expanding Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, part of a broader overhaul of border controls. While British citizens are exempt from the ETA requirement itself, airlines must now verify passengers’ right to enter the UK before boarding. Without clear proof of British nationality, travellers risk being refused boarding or facing delays at the border.
“For many dual nationals in France, the new reality is straightforward: if you are British, you must now travel like one”
For dual nationals living abroad, the shift has proved disruptive. Many had long relied on their non-British passport, often their EU document, to travel to Britain. The assumption was simple: if visa-free travel was permitted, the passport was sufficient. The new rules end that flexibility.
France is particularly affected. In the years following Brexit, thousands of Britons living in France sought French citizenship in order to retain EU rights of movement. French government data indicates that roughly 16,000 Britons acquired French nationality over the past seven years, creating a sizeable population of dual nationals potentially affected by the rule change.
The practical consequences can be unexpectedly mundane. Some dual citizens never applied for a British passport because they had little reason to do so. Others allowed their UK passport to expire while relying on their EU document for travel within Europe. Now they must either renew their British passport, often a time-consuming process from abroad, or obtain the alternative Right of Abode certificate.
Immigration lawyers say the change reflects a broader shift in British border management. By requiring documentary proof of nationality, the government ensures airlines can confirm eligibility before travellers even reach the UK border.
Critics, however, argue that the measure adds unnecessary bureaucracy for people who are already legally British. For many dual nationals in France, the new reality is straightforward: if you are British, you must now travel like one.
