New Zealand–British dual nationals risk being turned away at the UK border - or facing a costly stand-down period - if they attempt to enter the country without the proper documents under rules that take effect on February 25, a travel expert has warned, with insurance unlikely to come to the rescue.
Travel Agents Association NZ chief executive Julie White said she is concerned some travellers, particularly younger ones, may try their luck despite the new requirements.
“When we’re young and a little bit bulletproof, you’re only really living in the moment. They may decide, ‘well, look I’m just going to forge ahead’,” White told 1News.
Under the new rules, anyone eligible for a British passport - including the children of those who are eligible - must hold one before entering the UK. A New Zealand passport alone is no longer sufficient.
White said the consequences of non-compliance could be severe. “If you get caught, there’s actually some processes that the UK can impose on you. They can obviously turn you around, or they can actually give you a stand down period on returning back,” she said.
She added that the situation could also jeopardise a traveller’s right to work in the UK. “Where the handbrake comes is, this may actually impact their right to get a Certificate of Entitlement to be able to work in the UK.”
The cost of getting documentation in order varies. Non-dual nationals travelling to the UK need only an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which costs £16 (about $36). Dual nationals without a British passport, however, must apply for one at £94.50 (about $213), or alternatively obtain a Certificate of Entitlement (COE) at £589 (about $1,330). The COE is now digital and carries over to subsequent NZ passports.
British high commissioner to New Zealand Iona Thomas, speaking to Breakfast last month, said the changes were intended to modernise and digitise the border process. “I would encourage people to apply early. There is a fee for applying for a passport but it does last for 10 years,” she said. Thomas acknowledged the process could be demanding. “Applications for passports are necessarily rigorous, but it’s an important process to make sure those passports are secure.”
White predicted a three-month settling-in period but said some travellers would still be caught out at the border. She urged travellers not to assume entry requirements remain the same as before. “[People] really need to know what documents they require, and unfortunately, it actually lands on the person travelling,” White said. “Don’t assume it’s the same old, same old. My recommendation is to check and re-check and always go to the authoritative homeland websites.”
The European Union is introducing its own automated entry system, signalling the end of traditional passport stamps for most non‑EU travellers. By April 2026, the Entry/Exit System (EES) is expected to be fully deployed, recording each crossing into and out of the Schengen Area. Major airports and land crossings are installing biometric kiosks and automated lanes to streamline processing.
This system sets the stage for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), scheduled to begin operations in the last quarter of 2026. ETIAS will require most visa‑exempt travellers to obtain an online travel authorisation linked to their passport before departure.
