Do I need to renew my passport as an Australian dual citizen?

What are the UK dual citizenship passport changes?

From 25 February, there will be a change that will affect all Australian-UK and Australian-Irish dual citizens entering the UK. All such passport holders must use British or Irish passports when entering the UK.

The new rule reflects the tightening of the UK’s electronic travel authorization (ETA) programme, which is an entry requirement for all UK or Irish passport holders, which comes into force on 8 January 2025. An ETA costs £16 ($30.50) and you can apply online.

Temporarily, dual nationals with expired UK or Irish passports will be able to enter with their Australian passport, provided they have an ETA through their Australian passport and have their UK or Irish passport with them.

Previously, holders of dual Australian-British and Australian-Irish passports could enter the UK with their Australian passports provided they had an ETA, and this is a loophole the UK government wants to close. In fact, the government is clarifying its position. British or Irish passport holders are not eligible for ETA, so they must enter the UK with a UK or Irish passport.

The changes have caused major confusion among Australian dual citizens planning travel to the UK.

If my passport has expired, do I need to renew it?

The short answer is yes. However, the UK has since issued interim guidance stating that you can enter the UK with an expired UK or Irish passport, provided you have a valid passport with an ETA (such as an Australian passport) and your details match on both passports. of england ETA guide for dual citizens It does not specify how long the “interim guidance” will remain in effect.

However, there is a risk. Since airlines are responsible for taking you back home if you are refused entry to the UK, it is the airline who will decide whether your documents are acceptable, usually at their own expense. This may be at the discretion of the staff viewing your documents upon check-in.

How can I renew my passport?

The renewal process is quite simple. You can do this online at: gov.uk website. The fee is £94.50 ($190) for an adult and £61.50 ($124) for a child. Irish citizens can renew their passports at the Department of Foreign Affairs Passport Online the website charges €75 ($131) for a standard 10-year Irish passport.

What is a certificate of authority?

An alternative to renewing your passport is to apply. Certificate of AuthorizationThis proves that you have the right to reside in the UK. However, since this costs well over $1,000, it is much cheaper to renew your passport.

How many people were affected?

Many Australians will be affected by the change. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, almost one million Australians were born in the United Kingdom. Some of them are here on visas and are not Australian citizens, so they are not dual citizens. However, add the number of Australians born in the UK to the number of Australians who are entitled to UK citizenship by virtue of their parentage; There are probably close to two million people who qualify for a UK passport.

When you add the number of Irish-Australian dual passport holders to this, the total number increases even more. In the year ending 30 June 2025, more than one million Australians returned from short-term visits to the UK. Many of these visitors are likely to be dual citizens with British or Irish citizenship.

How do I know if I am a dual citizen?

If you were born in the UK, you are most likely a citizen. If you were not born in the UK and one or both of your parents are UK citizens, you can also become a UK citizen. If you’re a citizen, you’ll need a UK passport to enter the country under the new rules. For those born outside the UK to British parents, when and to whom you are born determines your citizenship.

If you were born on or after 1 January 1983 and your mother or father is a British citizen, you are likely to automatically become a British citizen. If you were born before 1 January 1983, your father was British at the time and you were married to your mother, you can automatically become a British citizen. If this applies, you do not need to go through an application process. You will only need to apply for a British passport to prove your citizenship.

UK government there is a website You can check if you are a British citizen here.

However, if you were born in Australia to British parents and have never applied for a UK passport or UK citizenship, will UK border control know about this? For many Australians who are dual UK citizens, a UK passport can be a liability rather than an asset (especially since Brexit). In this case it may be better to give up your UK citizenship and check the UK government legislation. citizenship website explaining the process.

Electronic transaction is quickly becoming a fact of traveler’s life. For countries that use electronic passport scanning, it makes it easier to track who is entering their country. For the traveler, this means shorter queues and faster processing at border control.