People holding British and another nationality are being warned they will need to have a physical British passport to travel to the UK, or face an expensive visa process from February 25.

The entry requirements for dual nationals have been overhauled and that means dual nationals with a Dutch but not a British passport will no longer be able to travel to Britain on their foreign papers.

Instead, they will have to show a British passport or a new, digital “certificate of entitlement” attached to the passport showing their other nationality.

The new rules are linked to the launch of the Electronic Travel Authorisation for visitors to the UK – which British nationals cannot have, the British embassy in The Hague told Dutch News.

A British passport, which lasts for 10 years, costs around €150 including courier services abroad, while the certificate costs some €600. The new rules do not apply to Irish passport holders.

Tricia Tarrant, from the British in the Netherlands campaign group, told Dutch News that the British government’s message about the change had not been clear and that officials seem not to have been aware of the real practical difficulties this will cause some people. 

“I’d urge people with an expired British passport to apply for a new one immediately,” she said. “And if you do have to travel in an emergency, check with your carrier if they will accept an expired one or whatever proof they will accept.”

Last week, the British in Europe (BIE) group, the 3million organisation and the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (ILPA) sent a joint letter to the British government calling for delay and introduction of transitional measures.

Find out more about the current regulations for dual nationals on the British government website.