Britain (Rajeev Sharma): A recent shift in British entry regulations has caught many dual Canadian-British nationals off guard, forcing them to urgently renew expired documents or seek alternative paperwork ahead of upcoming trips.
Beginning February 25, individuals who hold British citizenship alongside another nationality will be required to present a valid U.K. or Irish passport when entering the United Kingdom. Previously, many dual citizens were able to travel using their Canadian passports without issue.
For Montreal resident Sarah Byron, who emigrated from England to Canada decades ago, the news came as an unpleasant surprise. Having allowed her British passport to lapse, she now faces unexpected hurdles before her next planned visit to the country of her birth.
“I’ve travelled back every year without any problems,” Byron said. “Now I’m being told my Canadian passport won’t be enough.”
The policy change forms part of a broader overhaul of Britain’s border controls, including the rollout of an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system that aligns the U.K. more closely with entry models used in countries such as Canada and the United States. Under the updated system, British and Irish citizens are not eligible for the ETA and must instead travel on their national passports.
According to Statistics Canada, more than 460,000 Canadian residents were born in the United Kingdom, and thousands more may hold British citizenship through a parent. Immigration experts say many of these individuals may be unaware they are affected by the new requirement.
Rob Tinline, the U.K.’s High Commissioner to Canada, described the measure as part of a modernization effort aimed at strengthening border security through digital systems. He emphasized that the intention is not to deter travel but to ensure proper documentation is used.
“We want British citizens and Canadians to continue visiting freely,” Tinline said in an interview. “But as we update our systems, it’s important travellers comply with the correct procedures.”
The abrupt rollout has sparked criticism from some British lawmakers, who have called for clearer communication and possibly a grace period to prevent travellers from being turned away at airports. Travel advisors in Canada report that many clients had not heard of the changes until recently.
Serina Bowles, a Burlington-based travel consultant, said she is now contacting customers to confirm their citizenship status before finalizing bookings. “A lot of people don’t realize they qualify as British citizens through a parent,” she noted. “They’re only discovering it now because of this rule.”
Dual nationals without a valid British passport may apply for a certificate of entitlement — an official document confirming their right to reside in the U.K. — though the process can cost several hundred dollars. Renouncing British citizenship is another option, but it also carries significant fees and long-term implications.
With travel season approaching, many affected individuals are racing to secure the necessary paperwork to avoid disruption. For Byron and others in similar circumstances, the sudden shift has been unsettling.
“It feels strange,” she said. “I can travel almost anywhere on my Canadian passport — except the country where I was born.”
