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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dual citizens with expired passports

340 replies

Disturbedisanunderstatement · 27/02/2026 04:40

Don’t know if there is a thread on this already so happy to join an existing one if that is the case.
Posting in Aibu for traffic. Don’t care if iabu or not. I just need to fly to the UK next week and UK passport is expired.
I could fly almost anywhere in the world on my eu passport so it is ironic I am technically locked out of my country of origin but that’s where I have a work meeting spontaneously scheduled for next week. I would literally fly in the morning and out on the evening.

Anyone else in a similar position?

Apparently these airlines are accepting expired passports:

British Airways
easyJet
Lufthansa
Singapore Airlines
United
Virgin Atlantic

Anyone actually had success with this yet? Or works with the airlines and can confirm passengers will be allowed to travel?

Easyjet | The Independent

The latest breaking news, comment and features from The Independent.

https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/easyjet

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
notimagain · 27/02/2026 07:43

You should be able to get your passport renewed at the UK embassy of the country you live in and avoid any issues in future.

That would be nice but of course UK embassies stopped being involved in passport renewals one or two decades back...those Brits living abroad now have to deal direct with the UK Passport Agency

That works OK but it can be a lengthy process due to documentation having to travel by mail/courier.

Original poster
Disturbedisanunderstatement · 27/02/2026 07:45

For all of those with “rules are rules” comments - it is not the rule that is the problem but the communication of the rule two weeks before implementing it that is the issue. My local embassy no longer issues passports. You have to apply via post from the UK. The process is longer than 2 weeks notice they provided.
I could fly on my eu passport previously with zero issue.
I found out via instagram reels of people getting stuck at the airport.
There was no communication until it was too late.

OP posts:
PeppyBrickQuoter · 27/02/2026 07:47

Disturbedisanunderstatement · 27/02/2026 07:45

For all of those with “rules are rules” comments - it is not the rule that is the problem but the communication of the rule two weeks before implementing it that is the issue. My local embassy no longer issues passports. You have to apply via post from the UK. The process is longer than 2 weeks notice they provided.
I could fly on my eu passport previously with zero issue.
I found out via instagram reels of people getting stuck at the airport.
There was no communication until it was too late.

The uk embassies haven’t issued passports in years. Only the HMPO does. You can just apply online even if you’re abroad. www.gov.uk/apply-renew-passport

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 27/02/2026 07:49

Disturbedisanunderstatement · 27/02/2026 04:49

Even people who have a British parent, grew up abroad, never had a UK passport, and don’t even need/want one cannot get an eta.

Doesn't apply if the dual citizenship/passport you do have is Irish.

Goatsarebest · 27/02/2026 07:49

The UK passport service is pretty good now. Definitely one of the better gov departments and there is an online application that works well and they estimate times for you to help with travel ( it can not all be done online because you need to send documents). Renewing is only a few weeks. New passports absolutely make sure you have the paperwork. A shocking number are returned due to not including correct paperwork. Just don't be one of them and it will progress quickly.

Original poster
Disturbedisanunderstatement · 27/02/2026 07:52

@PeppyBrickQuoter it’s not that the embassy gave me 2 weeks notice that they wouldn’t renew my passport. It’s the eta system gave two weeks notice that my eu passport would not be valid. And the passport renewal service takes longer than 2 weeks. So does the application process for my kids, who have never had a UK passport and now need one.

OP posts:
Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 27/02/2026 07:52

Goatsarebest · 27/02/2026 07:18

This is only entry to UK and the common travel area means you do not need a uk passport to enter uk as a uk citizen if you hold an Irish passport, irrespective as to whether you are entitled to uk citizenship or not and traveling on an Irish passport, which over a million Irish would be. Once again Ireland and UK showing how you can have completly separate governance as Countries but get your freedom of movement and trade to work to the advantage of both Countries even during tines of security issues and divergence in external trading unions. 100 years doing this. EU can only dream of this type of common agreement.

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I don't even understand this garbled post!

Goatsarebest · 27/02/2026 07:58

It means that due to historic agreements between Ireland and UK the requiremts being duscussed on this thread do not apply to people who travel on Irish passports. Without those agreemenrs about a million Irish passport holders woukd have to apply for a UK passport to enter the UK.
And it doesn't apply to going to France only uk entry.
Is that clearer for you.

PurpleThistle7 · 27/02/2026 07:59

My kids and I are actually triple citizens. The third country is where I was born so I had automatic citizenship there and it passes down one generation so my kids have it to. They’ve never visited and are unlikely to visit any time soon (I was born in Israel) but if any of us want to visit, we’d need to sort that out.

Is this a Brexit thing? Because EU citizens used to be the same category as British but now you need a visa etc? It’s being talked about a lot here and I’m mostly surprised that it’s not been required until now.

timoteigirl · 27/02/2026 08:00

Yes this is because of Brexit, just taken years to get it started.

Kiwi09 · 27/02/2026 08:01

Goatsarebest · 27/02/2026 07:32

It definitely affects those on lower and fixed incomes disproportionaly (no surprise there). If you are married, for example, to a Bulgarian and living in Bulgaria with children it could cost you half your disposable monthly income to get it all sorted for a week seeing grandparents.

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That’s awful! They should still be able to travel on their foreign passport unless they plan to live in the UK.

notimagain · 27/02/2026 08:02

Disturbedisanunderstatement · 27/02/2026 07:52

@PeppyBrickQuoter it’s not that the embassy gave me 2 weeks notice that they wouldn’t renew my passport. It’s the eta system gave two weeks notice that my eu passport would not be valid. And the passport renewal service takes longer than 2 weeks. So does the application process for my kids, who have never had a UK passport and now need one.

TBF there were warnings in some of the UK media and expat forums about this change a lot more than two weeks ago. I remember because, for reasons, we discussed them in this household last summer.

Problem is though is it wasn't trumpted loud enough by HMG to be heard world wide until maybe a couple of weeks ago, so I can understand why a lot of people have been caught out.

Nofksleft2give · 27/02/2026 08:05

Goatsarebest · 27/02/2026 06:33

My understanding is that if you got a passport in your birth country and gave up British citizenship then you are fine even if parents are British. It's if you can be dual nationality or are dual nationality that you need a valid UK passport. It's the if you can be, that is catching people. Alot of people don't want to be and don't realise they can be.

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This. It’s the dual nationality status that matters.

It’s always been advised, if dual, to enter a country using that country’s passport IF you hold dual citizenship.

gototogo · 27/02/2026 08:05

This law already applies to other countries, I know lots of people who have fallen foul of it to the USA, been in place for 15 years or more, also esta for USA, eta for Canada also many other countries. My dh is a dual national and always keeps 2 valid passports as does my dd who is dual national with another country (not his dd).

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 27/02/2026 08:06

Londonnight · 27/02/2026 06:47

My grandchildren live abroad. They were born there, but because my son was born in the UK they have to have UK passports if they want to visit as they are classed as duel citizens.

This has only really been in the news this past couple of weeks, even though it came in on Wednesday. It has been kept very quiet with very little notice. My son keeps up on UK news and what is happening and he only found out two weeks ago.
He has had to send for the children's passports to London with all their relevant paperwork with no idea how long this will take. They can't book flights to the UK until everything comes back.

My DD (who has taken Australian Citizenship) is about to have a baby. She will be flying back to the UK (with the baby) shortly for a family wedding but has to now get the baby TWO passports (his Australian one and now also a British one) so he can travel with her.

This was not well advertised in other countries as far as I am aware, she had heard something about it but being in the latter stage of pregnancy wasn't paying that much attention until I warned her earlier this week.

Her child will be living in Australia, will be Australian, paying taxes in Australia, but needs to keep a UK passport for if he wants to visit (or be brought by his parents to visit) here. Seems a bit bonkers to me, he's going to be four months old when he comes over first, he's hardly going to be staying illegally....

gototogo · 27/02/2026 08:06

Passport renewal 3 weeks ago took 6 days btw

Simonjt · 27/02/2026 08:07

Plinketyplonks · 27/02/2026 06:37

It has been in the news? I’d heard of it from the BBC/ newspapers. Hope you get it sorted OP. It’s common in other countries too eg my husband also has nationality of a South American country and when he goes there he has to enter on that passport, not his UK one.

Yes it has, we’ve known about it for months, so we renewed our sons British passport a bit early.

gototogo · 27/02/2026 08:08

And remember it’s already the same for the eu, my dd has to enter with her eu passport not her uk passport!

gototogo · 27/02/2026 08:09

@Vroomfondleswaistcoat. It’s already the case for us going to Australia, my dh keeps 2 passports consequently

Dancingsquirrels · 27/02/2026 08:10

liveforsummer · 27/02/2026 06:50

Maybe a stupid question but how do they know you also hold a uk passport? My dc have 2 and I don’t think either know about the other one

It's not just if you have a UK passport just being a British citizen means you aren't eligible for an ETA

I also wondered how they would know. But I guess when you apply for a ETA, you have to answer questions eg where your parents were born? And it would be risky, perhaps impossible, to provide false info

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 27/02/2026 08:11

gototogo · 27/02/2026 08:09

@Vroomfondleswaistcoat. It’s already the case for us going to Australia, my dh keeps 2 passports consequently

My DD used to travel in on her UK passport and back on her Australian one. That's fine, but it's more the fact that she's going to have to get two passports very quickly for the baby, and the UK one might take a bit of time!

Conniebygaslight · 27/02/2026 08:13

Our DC have dual nationality (Australia). They’ve only ever been able to fly into Australia on their Australian passports and back home (UK) on their British ones. They have to keep both active all the time. Renewing their Australian ones means presenting in person at the Australian consulate in London every time which is another cost.

PurpleThistle7 · 27/02/2026 08:14

Dancingsquirrels · 27/02/2026 08:10

It's not just if you have a UK passport just being a British citizen means you aren't eligible for an ETA

I also wondered how they would know. But I guess when you apply for a ETA, you have to answer questions eg where your parents were born? And it would be risky, perhaps impossible, to provide false info

Show quote history

There's a complimentary thread to this about a family who wants to go to the states for a wedding. The mother is American and grew up in the states so her British born children are American too. They've never had American passports and never intend to live in the states, so she's wondering if it's safe to bring them back on their UK passports. Given the current context in the states, I would say absolutely not.

I think for any of the visa applications you have to note if you are a citizen of that country. So at bare minimum you'd be lying. And it wouldn't be 'that' difficult to check it - particularly if you're travelling with a parent with that passport.

My brother was caught out years back as he had no idea he was a citizen of a particular country until he moved there and then applied for a visa to visit Turkey. He had a massive mess to clean up as he should never have been in the country without that passport to begin with, but it was only once they looked into his name and his parents name that everyone realised.

Natsku · 27/02/2026 08:14

Kiwi09 · 27/02/2026 08:01

That’s awful! They should still be able to travel on their foreign passport unless they plan to live in the UK.

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That's the problem, they are not allowed to travel to the UK on their foreign passports.

Conniebygaslight · 27/02/2026 08:15

PurpleThistle7 · 27/02/2026 08:14

There's a complimentary thread to this about a family who wants to go to the states for a wedding. The mother is American and grew up in the states so her British born children are American too. They've never had American passports and never intend to live in the states, so she's wondering if it's safe to bring them back on their UK passports. Given the current context in the states, I would say absolutely not.

I think for any of the visa applications you have to note if you are a citizen of that country. So at bare minimum you'd be lying. And it wouldn't be 'that' difficult to check it - particularly if you're travelling with a parent with that passport.

My brother was caught out years back as he had no idea he was a citizen of a particular country until he moved there and then applied for a visa to visit Turkey. He had a massive mess to clean up as he should never have been in the country without that passport to begin with, but it was only once they looked into his name and his parents name that everyone realised.

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They’d be refused an ETA