Dual British Nationals Must Enter the UK on a British Passport
12 May 2026
If you have become a British citizen and also hold a Hong Kong SAR, BNO, or other foreign passport, you must use your British passport to enter the UK. This rule has been in place since 25 February 2026 and is now being strictly enforced.
Free Movement reported this week on a case that shows the real-world consequences. A Scottish family with an 11-month-old child who held both British and Austrian citizenship was refused boarding because the child did not have a British passport. The child had every legal right to enter the UK, but could not board without the correct travel document. Airlines can face fines for carrying passengers without the right paperwork, so carriers are checking carefully.
The government had suggested "compassionate implementation" when the rule came in, but Free Movement reports that enforcement is strict in practice. Do not assume you will be waved through.
This is directly relevant to BNO visa holders who have recently completed their settlement journey and become British citizens. Once you hold British citizenship, you must travel on a British passport. The same applies to children who have been registered as British. You cannot use a Hong Kong SAR, BNO, or any other national passport to enter the UK as a British citizen.
If you have naturalised recently or your child has just been registered as British, apply for a British passport as soon as possible, before your next trip to the UK or from abroad.
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