FAQ

I’m a dual citizen - which passport should I show when entering the UK?

**** BREAKING NEWS - START ****

On 10 March 2026, Home Office guidance on dual citizenship announced a major policy change affecting dual British citizens who had status under the EU Settlement Scheme before becoming British.  

Contrary to the information in the FAQ below, these dual citizens can now continue to travel to and enter the UK with their other (non-British) passport. They therefore do not need to obtain a British passport if they don’t want to.

This is not a transitional measure, this is indefinite. But note:

• This doesn’t apply to dual British nationals who did not first obtain EUSS status; and
• You must check your eVisa is still showing your pre-settled or settled status, and you must ensure your current passport or national identity card (if from the EU, EEA or Switzerland) is linked to your eVisa. See our FAQ I’ve renewed my passport. Do I really need to keep my UKVI account / eVisa updated? What happens if I don’t link a new passport or national identity document to my digital status? 

We will update the information in the FAQ below in due course.

**** BREAKING NEWS - END ****

To answer this, first some general information about entering the UK.

When you cross any border, you need to prove that you have the right to enter that country, for the stated purpose of entering.

If you are entering the UK:

• on an identity document that isn’t British or Irish, 
• and you tell the UK Border Force Officer that you live in the UK, or for example you want to work in the UK (in other words, you are not entering as a visitor),
• then you have to prove you have the right to enter the UK.

For EU citizens this can be in the form of a digital status (eVisa) linked to your passport or national identity card if you have status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). (But do look at our FAQ I have (pre-) settled status. Can I use my EU national identity card to enter the UK? for important information about use of national identity cards after 31 December 2025. )

For other (non-British) citizens this is usually also a digital status, or for some it may be a legacy visa in the form of a sticker in a passport or biometric residence card/permit (see this Home Office webpage on how to transfer these to an eVisa via the NTL process).

Please also see our Travel to the UK webpage for information on what documents you need to be allowed to board a carrier abroad for travel to the UK.

So, to address the question of people with multiple passports, you should show the passport which demonstrates your right to enter the UK.

If you are British - show the British passport. If instead you show your other passport, that passport will not prove a right to enter the UK. If you had applied for EU Settlement Scheme status before naturalising as British, your non-British passport may still be linked to your EUSS status in the Government’s computer systems, but strictly speaking your settled status will be void - see our FAQ: I am an EU citizen and after I got settled status I naturalised as a British citizen. I do not have a British passport. Can I travel to and enter the UK on my EU passport?.

If you are not British but have more than one nationality - show the passport / national identity card which is linked to your immigration status. Perhaps more than one of your identity documents is linked to your immigration status, in which case you can present any of those to the Border Force officer. 

See also our FAQ on which identity documents to use when booking a return trip from the UK to the EU.