<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The UK government has quietly revealed a loophole which may allow </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/united-kingdom-eta-rules-for-dual-citizens-british-passport-questions-answered/7ba80087-0d88-43ae-8819-02a26a56afcd" rel="" target="_blank" title="dual British-Australian citizens to travel back home "><span>dual British-Australian citizens to travel back home</span></a><span> on an expired UK passport.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>From tomorrow, the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/aussie-travellers-to-uk-will-soon-need-digital-permission-to-enter/eae12992-fde8-4b6a-a3b2-5967bc343c74" target="_blank" title="UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme"><span>UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme</span></a><span> will be fully enforced following a long grace period – meaning travellers from dozens of countries, including Australia, need to pay £16 ($32) for a visa waiver.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>British and Irish citizens, however, won't need to apply for an ETA to visit.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/pokemon-card-trading-how-lucy-makes-six-figures-buying-selling-cards-online/fa14a3d5-4369-46d6-b8e5-7f298be950cb" rel="" target="_blank" title="Lucy earns more cash trading Pokémon cards than from her 9 to 5 job"><strong><span>Lucy earns more cash trading Pokémon cards than from her 9 to 5 job</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Do you have a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter April Glover at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:april.glover@nine.com.au" target="" title="april.glover@nine.com.au"><em><strong><span>april.glover@nine.com.au</span></strong></em></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/uk-eta-for-australian-2026-travel-rules-changes-dual-citizen-passport-requirements/6d415761-bdea-4d26-8aa5-35baf5cda026" rel="" target="_blank" title="Dual nationals were instead warned by the UK's Home Office"><span>Dual nationals were instead warned by the UK's Home Office</span></a><span> that citizens will need to travel on a valid British or Irish passport or certificate of entitlement to avoid problems like being denied boarding.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Now, the UK government has stated some airlines may allow British expats to travel on both an expired UK passport and a valid Australian passport.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/uk-eta-dual-citizen-rule-expired-passport-loophole-explained/f67b643f-992d-4e6d-930e-997dfe3dcf20" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The personal details on both passports must match," the government wrote in an update on its website.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is the carrier's decision whether to allow you to travel."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is unclear when this update was posted on the UK government's website.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This advice is incongruent with the warnings issued to dual citizens ahead of tomorrow's changes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Earlier this week, the British High Commission told travellers dual British–Australian and British–Irish citizens must travel with a valid British passport, a valid Irish passport or another passport with a certificate of entitlement (right of abode).</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/noosa-houseboats-queensland-man-sells-boat-for-one-dollar-after-being-forced-off-river/7a97cae6-7ce5-4509-aa07-c27922a61f5b" target="_blank" title="David sold his home for $2 after 'traumatic' new rule forced him out"><strong><span>David sold his home for $2 after 'traumatic' new rule forced him out</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-timeline-of-events-between-prince-andrew-jeffrey-epstein/952378da-ce1f-43b9-a97f-d518d7e156ad"><strong><span>Timeline of events that led to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If you can't show one of these documents at check-in, you may be denied boarding," the High Commission warned.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The conflicting information has caused mass confusion among expats hoping to visit home after tomorrow.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dozens of dual citizens contacted nine.com.au to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/uk-australia-dual-citizen-passport-stuart-and-gwen-rayner-expensive-cruise-potentially-ruined/b0c3af93-c9d6-425d-a116-fe0a24d1a5c6" rel="" target="_blank" title="reveal they had rush-ordered passports"><span>reveal they had rush-ordered passports</span></a><span> or </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/uk-eta-passport-changes-dual-british-australian-citizens-reveal-plans-to-rescind-citizenship/824c043a-cf7b-4e35-bf06-6add63f82df6" rel="" target="_blank" title="were considering renouncing their British citizenship."><span>were considering renouncing their British citizenship.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The HM Passport Office recommends people do not book travel or apply for visas until they have their British passport.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A standard passport is £108 ($215) for an adult, and £70 ($138) for a child, plus a £19.86 ($38) courier fee.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nine.com.au has contacted the British High Commission for comment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What is a certificate of entitlement?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A certificate of entitlement can be used instead of a British passport and is proof of your right to dwell in the UK.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Importantly, you cannot get a certificate if you already have a British passport or a valid certificate of entitlement in another foreign passport.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It will cost £589 (approx. $1163) for anyone applying outside the UK and it can take around three weeks for your application to be approved.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>