If you have a British passport this is what you need to know if you want to go to the UK
Thursday, 15 January 2026
If you’re a New Zealand citizen and also have a British or Irish citizenship, changes are coming about how you travel to the United Kingdom.
From February 25, 2026 those dual nationals must travel to the UK using a valid UK passport or Irish passport or a valid foreign passport with a certificate of entitlement.
You will not be able to travel without one of these documents.
This impacts people born in the UK who later became NZ citizens and long-term expats who may not have used a UK passport for decades.
Previously, dual nationals could use their second nationality passport to enter the UK. But under the new electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system, travellers will need their British passports to be up to date and will not be able to go through UK passport control until their British nationality is verified.
British-born Julia Warren now calls Tasman home. She told Stuff Travel the rule feels “unnecessarily bureaucratic and punitive“ while Auckland resident Vince told RNZ it put British citizens in a worse position in their own country than visa-waiver travellers - such as New Zealand-born citizens using ETAs.
What is a certificate of entitlement?
The official document confirms the holder has the right of abode in the UK. This is placed into a New Zealand (or other foreign) passport and needs to be replaced if your passport expires.
If you have a valid UK or Irish passport, you do not need one.
A certificate of entitlement costs £589 (NZ$1380) whereas getting a new British passport is £94.50 (NZ$221).
What if I am travelling before February 25?
If you have a valid passport for a nationality that can get an ETA, you can use it to travel to the UK without an ETA or a certificate of entitlement.
What if I was born in New Zealand but my parent was born in the UK?
For those who are already British citizens automatically, for example through birth or descent, but who have never applied for a passport, the requirement is the same. They will need to enter the UK on a British Passport or have a certificate of entitlement.
You can check whether you are a British citizen by going to gov.uk/check-british-citizenship
Is the UK refusing entry to its citizens?
No. The change is about the airlines needing to prove a traveller’s right to enter, and from late February that proof must be a British passport or certificate of entitlement.
A birth certificate, or expired documents will not be accepted.
The airlines can deny you from boarding if you can not produce either of the two documents and face a fine if they carry you without the correct documentation.
What are travel agents advising?
Jen Staples, air and product manager at Flight Centre Travel Group, advised travellers to check their passport status well ahead of travel.
'Our advice for travellers is to always carry both passports when travelling between their countries of citizenship and make sure both passports are valid. We strongly advise dual citizens to check their documentation early, so they have time to renew their UK passports, or they may risk being denied entry into the UK.
'If there’s any uncertainty around eligibility or documentation, travellers should refer directly to the UK Government website or the HM Passport Office, as requirements can vary depending on individual circumstances.”
This story has been corrected to make it clearer that anyone with the right to citizenship in the UK, including those by descent, regardless of whether you have a British Passport already, will need to enter the UK on a British Passport or have a certificate of entitlement.