Life in the UK Test Practice
✓ Last verified: 2026-07-28
Dual citizenship (also known as dual nationality) is allowed in the UK. This means you can be a British citizen and also a citizen of one or more other countries.
You do not need to apply for dual citizenship. You can apply for foreign citizenship and keep your British citizenship.
You do not need to apply for dual citizenship separately. You can apply for foreign citizenship and keep your British citizenship at the same time.
Many countries do not accept dual citizenship. Check with that country's consulate or embassy in the UK to find out about its rules on dual nationality.
The Home Office does not hold records of everyone who has British citizenship automatically. Before you travel to the UK, it is your responsibility to check if you have British citizenship.
You may have British citizenship automatically if you either:
You can check if you have British citizenship on GOV.UK, or apply for British citizenship if you do not already have it.
As a dual national, you cannot get diplomatic help from the British government when you are in the other country where you also hold citizenship.
For example, if you hold both British and French citizenship, you cannot get diplomatic help from the UK while you're in France.
As a dual national, you can travel to the UK using either:
If you're not a British citizen, you will need permission to travel to the UK, for example an electronic travel authorisation (ETA).
Travelling with an expired UK passport: your carrier (for example, your airline) may allow you to travel if you have both an expired UK passport (issued in 1989 or later) and a valid passport for a nationality that can get an ETA, and the personal details on both passports match. It is the carrier's decision whether to allow this. You cannot get an ETA if you're a British or Irish dual citizen.
Travelling with another passport or national ID card: if you got British citizenship after settling in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme, you can travel to the UK using a valid passport of your other nationality, or a national identity card from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland. Before you travel, check your eVisa for your pre-settled or settled status, and update your UKVI account if your passport or ID card has changed.
You do not automatically become a British citizen when you marry a British person. You need to apply as the spouse of a British citizen.
In some countries, a married person automatically takes their partner's nationality, and children may automatically have a parent's nationality even if born abroad. Check with that country's consulate or high commission in the UK to find out about its rules on dual nationality.
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Last updated: 2026-07-28 • Category: Immigration Guides
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