New UK Passport Requirements Effective February 25: Your Guide

Hundreds of frustrated Australian British and Australian Irish dual citizens have contacted the ABC with questions about the new UK passport entry requirements that come into effect on February 25. A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson confirmed officials had relayed concerns from British Australian dual citizens to the British High Commission in Australia. The British high commissioner has not responded to requests for an interview but addressed frequently asked questions in a social media post. Here's what we know so far. What are the new rules for UK and Irish passports? From February 25, British/Irish dual citizens will be prevented from entering the UK or Ireland using a passport from a different country, such as an Australian passport. They will need to use their valid UK or Irish passport or another valid passport containing a certificate of entitlement (COE). This means dual citizens will have to choose whether to pay for a British passport, the COE or renounce their British citizenship. Costs for each option are: A UK passport costs about $190 An Irish passport costs about $130 A certificate of entitlement costs $1,100 Renouncing UK citizenship costs $968 Can I have dual Australian and British citizenship? You can have dual citizenship, but you have to enter on a British passport or with a COE in your Australian passport. Many countries do not allow dual citizenship, but the UK does. This means you can apply for a foreign citizenship and keep your British citizenship. Existing British citizens can apply for a foreign citizenship without forfeiting their rights in the UK. Can a British citizen enter the UK on an Australian passport? A British citizen can enter the UK on an Australian or any other foreign passport if they have a COE. A COE is a document placed in a foreign passport to prove the passport holder has the right to stay in the UK. It allows you to live and work in the country without immigration restrictions or a time limit. Every time your passport is renewed, your COE will need to be as well. Can a UK citizen hold two passports? Yes, but you will need to enter the UK on a UK passport or have a COE. While the new requirement is causing confusion for dual citizens, it's actually what has been the case in Australia for years. On re-entering the country, citizens need an Australian passport. Much like UK citizens, after February 25, Australian citizens who travel without an Australian passport might have their entry delayed until their identity and claim to Australian citizenship have been verified. In simple terms, when you re-enter the UK, you need your British passport. When you return to Australia, you will need your Australian passport. If you have another foreign passport and a UK passport, you will need to enter the UK on a UK passport or have a COE in your foreign passport. How can I get a new UK passport in Australia? You can apply for a British passport online. You can start the application process on this UK government webpage. You can also apply by post, by picking up a paper passport application from your local post office. This will take longer than online. If you need help, post office staff can check you've filled in the form correctly — but you'll need to provide your own photos. This service costs extra. Find out more about the paper application check and send service here. You can pay by cash, or debit or credit card. If you are applying for your first British adult passport, you will need to give the email address of someone who can confirm your identity. You will also need your parents' details, including their: Names, dates and places of birth nationality UK passport details, if they have them details of their marriage, if they are married How do I get a new Irish passport in Australia? You can apply for an Irish passport online. According to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, current processing and delivery times for a first-time adult and child application online are 20 working days. If you make a paper application via post, it will take eight weeks. If you are a first-time applicant, you will need to provide extra documentation, which is listed here. How do I renew an expired British passport? You must bring your old passport to the post office if you still have it. If you've changed your name, you'll also need to bring proof of your new name (like a marriage certificate). If your passport is lost, you'll also need the name and email address of someone who can confirm your identity. I'm British, but my children were born in Australia. How will this affect them? British citizenship is normally automatically passed down one generation to children born outside the UK if one of the parents is a citizen at the time of birth. As a result, you can be a British citizen but not hold a UK passport or even know you're considered a citizen. It is likely your child will need to apply for a British passport or a COE. They can also renounce their citizenship. You can check if you're a dual citizen here. How do I renounce my UK citizenship? You can apply to give up your citizenship to the UK government. If accepted, you'll get a "declaration of renunciation" that you can use to show that you're no longer British. If you give up your British citizenship, it could affect the status of children you have in the future. You can only give it up if you already have citizenship elsewhere, or you will get another citizenship after giving it up. It can take up to six months. Many readers have told the ABC they are concerned about renouncing their British citizenship, particularly in relation to their children and access to benefits such as a UK state pension. How do I renounce my Irish citizenship? You can renounce your Irish citizenship if: You are over 18 years of age You live outside the state You are, or are about to become, a citizen of another country You need to: Complete a declaration of alienage Form 13 Get your declaration witnessed (there's a list of acceptable witnesses on your form) Submit your form to Immigration Service Delivery.