Reports indicate a growing number of British expats choosing to renounce their UK citizenship.
While the overall numbers remain modest when measured against total outward migration, a specific catalyst is pushing many expats to question their UK status.
Stricter UK Entry Rules 2026
From 25 February 2026, stricter UK pre-departure carrier checks require dual British nationals travelling to the UK to present either a valid British passport or a certificate of entitlement confirming their right of abode. British citizens cannot apply for an ETA. Airlines and other carriers are legally required to verify status before boarding. If a dual national presents only a foreign passport and British nationality cannot be confirmed, boarding may be refused.
The underlying nationality law has not changed. British citizens retain the right of abode and cannot be refused entry at the UK border.
The change is how the rules are enforced, and means travellers have to prove their status to carriers before departure, rather than on arrival at the UK border.
For dual nationals living abroad, this creates a practical question about documentation and cost.
A standard adult British passport currently costs around £94.50 for a UK online application, with higher fees overseas. A certificate of entitlement, which is placed in a foreign passport and confirms the holder’s right of abode, is currently priced at £589. For a family resident overseas who travels to the UK infrequently, maintaining British passports or paying for certificates becomes an ongoing financial consideration.
In some jurisdictions, naturalisation requires a formal declaration of renunciation of previous nationality. An individual may therefore have declared renunciation locally while remaining British in UK law because no declaration was registered with the Home Office. Renewing or using a British passport can raise compliance concerns under local nationality rules.
For those who do not intend to live or work in the UK again, the issue becomes more direct. Retaining British citizenship now carries active documentation obligations for travel. Renunciation removes the need for a British passport or certificate because the individual ceases to be British in law and travels solely on their remaining nationality.
The February 2026 carrier checks do not change who is British. They change how British status has to be evidenced before travel. For some dual nationals, that evidential requirement creates an ongoing practical burden.
Dual Citizen Options
The stricter UK entry checks is prompting many dual citizens to reassess whether to retain or renounce British citizenship.
The options for dual British nationals are broadly threefold.
First, maintain or renew a British passport. For families, renewal cycles can add up but remain comparatively predictable.
Second, apply for a certificate of entitlement. This is attached to a foreign passport and confirms the holder’s right of abode. For occasional travellers who do not wish to hold a British passport, this may be viable, though significantly more expensive.
Third, consider formal renunciation under the British Nationality Act 1981. Renouncing British citizenship requires a declaration to the Home Office and payment of a fee. Once registered, British citizenship ceases and the right of abode is lost. Future residence or employment in the UK would require immigration permission, and reacquisition of citizenship later is not automatic.
Renunciation resolves the entry documentation issue because the individual would then travel as a foreign national, applying for permission where required. It also removes automatic UK residence rights and the ability to return without immigration control.
For dual nationals concerned about the new checks, the immediate step is practical. Review passport validity. Compare the cost of renewal with a certificate of entitlement. Assess long-term residence plans. Renunciation is a nationality decision with permanent consequences, not simply a response to a border compliance rule.
