British expats are giving up their UK citizenship as new passport rules mean they’re left “worse off than foreigners”.
The new rules mean all dual nationals will have to have a British passport.
Roughly 1.2 million dual British citizens located around the world could be impacted by the change, with fears they will be put in a worse position than foreign citizens.
At the moment, dual British citizens can enter the UK using a non-British passport.
However, from February 25, these people will have to present a British passport when entering the country or a “certificate of entitlement” costing £589.
Panic has ensued among many dual nationals across the world, with embassies and consulates inundated with inquiries and complaints about the lack of guidance and warning on the new legislation.
Dual nationals may be stopped from boarding flights to Britain or blocked at the border, putting them at a disadvantage compared to foreign citizens who are unaffected by the rule changes.
Mark Stocker, 70, a British-Kiwi dual national who lives in New Zealand, when speaking to the Times, said he would be renouncing his native citizenship to avoid the lengthy and costly process of obtaining a passport.
British expats worry if they can't produce a British passport they'll be denied on a flight to Britain
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Born in Watford and studied at three British universities, Mr Stocker said, “You can’t get more British than that”.
A week after obtaining his PhD in 1986, the art historian moved to New Zealand and has called it home ever since.
However, he returns to Britain regularly to visit family and to continue research on various art projects.
He said: “I still feel a definite affection for Britain.”
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British embassies and consulates have been inundated with inquiries since dual nationals have been made aware of the new rules
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However, his British passport expired over 20 years ago and applying for a new one seems like an ask too big.
Mr Stocker would need to locate original copies of his parents’ birth and marriage certificates - a task he does not think is possible.
He described the process of renouncing his British citizenship as “simpler” and “cleaner” than obtaining a new passport.
The current dual national said: “One, renouncing will mean that I will be just like any other New Zealander in the future, and there’s nothing that needs to be renewed.
“I can visit Britain on the same basis as any Kiwi.
“I think the other thing is that renouncing, in a way, is quite a strong gesture to say I thoroughly disapprove of this Government measure, whereas searching around for historic birth certificates is kind of gratifying the British Government and its policy.
“Renouncing is saying, ‘I don’t want to be part of it’.”
Paul Freemantle, also speaking to The Times, left Swindon in 2000 to work in Michigan, has also been impacted by the changes.
Mr Freemantle is planning a trip to the UK, with his wife and three children.
Although his children are eligible for British citizenship through their father, they do not currently hold British passports.
Under the new rules, each child must now apply for one ahead of their July holiday, adding more than £900 to their holiday in passport costs.
Mr Freemantle said his main frustration was how the changes were communicated, with only finding out about the new rules through a YouTube video, instead of direct communication from the UK Government.
On a public Facebook group, Aussies & Kiwis Travelling to Europe, a discussion surrounding the new passport rules had various users giving advice.
One user wrote: “Isn’t it so annoying that this has come to light only this week.
“First, it was published in October, but not widely known!”
On the same Facebook post, commenters debated whether you can fly to Ireland on an Australian passport and then fly to the UK without being checked, however, others said this loophole was risky.
The Home Office said it could not comment on individual cases but confirmed the policy forms part of wider efforts to modernise the UK’s digital border system.
A spokesman said a substantial communications campaign had been rolled out to inform those affected.
The Home Office said that from February 25, 2026, all dual British citizens travelling to the UK must present a valid British passport or a certificate of entitlement.
Without this documentation, airlines may be unable to confirm a traveller’s citizenship status, potentially resulting in delays or denied boarding.