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I am a dual national from birth of both Britain and Italy. Up till now I've never had any issues entering the UK on my Italian passport. But today they stopped me saying I needed to prove I'm British. I had a photo of an old British passport that I've not renewed because the Italian passport is more powerful and so I only used that one to travel. They let me through, but border force said to me I need to prove in some way I am British next time.

I think it's crazy to have to buy a UK passport just for the purpose of entering my own country. Is there another way to add perhaps to the Italian passport that I'm British?

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    It's not unheard of that countries demand their citizens use their passports to enter/leave. Most countries that allow dual citizenship - don't recognize it. In the country of your citizenship you're only considered citizen of that one country regardless of your other citizenships.
    – littleadv
    Commented Oct 26 at 21:47
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    Why did you need to prove you are British? Italian citizens can travel to the UK without needing a visa for up to six months - at least until sometime next year when you'd need to get an ETA. I have travelled several times on my German passport since my UK passport expired without issue.
    – Jack Aidley
    Commented Oct 27 at 12:20
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    @JackAidley perhaps aiphos resides in the UK.
    – phoog
    Commented Oct 27 at 20:51
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    @JackAidley an Italian citizen can visit the UK. They cannot live or work in the UK unless they have a relevant visa or residence permit… or are actually a British citizen. If OP has already spent a lot of time in the UK over the last year, that would indeed trigger more questions from the Border Force and a request for relevant evidence.
    – jcaron
    Commented Oct 27 at 22:12
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    @jcaron Yes, obviously. That's why I am asking the question.
    – Jack Aidley
    Commented Oct 28 at 7:23

3 Answers 3

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They let me through, but border force said to me I need to prove in some way I am British next time.

Only a British passport or 'certificate of entitlement' is legally defined as conclusive for the purpose of establishing British citizenship when entering the UK.

Is there another way to add perhaps to the Italian passport that I'm British?

Unfortunately it is more expensive than a passport. You can apply for a 'certificate of entitlement', to go in your Italian passport, but this costs £550.

https://www.gov.uk/right-of-abode/apply-for-a-certificate-of-entitlement

Additionally, the Home Office has given a hint that they may be developing an electronic solution to this issue in their newest eVisa FAQ.

British passport holders and Irish citizens, including those who previously held an immigration status but have since acquired British citizenship, do not need to do anything. British citizens who do not have a British passport because they are dual nationals (excluding Irish passport holders) may need to take action in future regarding how they prove their right of abode. Updates on this will be provided in due course.

https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2024/10/02/media-factsheet-evisas-2/

For now, I'd suggest renewing your passport is the best option. £88.50 for a 10 year passport is not that bad a deal, in my opinion.

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  • It's certainly a much better deal than £550 for a certificate of entitlement!
    – phoog
    Commented Oct 29 at 14:37
  • The certificate of entitlement is not really a proof of UK citizenship. It's only a way to prove one has "right of abode" in the UK (i.e. can live and work there without any limits, like a UK citizen would) when one is not a British citizen. It's destined for some citizens of the Commonwealth who are (now adult, aged 42+) children of UK-born British citizens (conditions apply). I'm not even sure they would grant one to an actual British citizen.
    – jcaron
    Commented Oct 29 at 15:35
  • @jcaron It is still sufficient for entry to the UK, since all UK citizens have right of abode. Yes, they can be granted to citizens, as long as they do not hold a valid passport. And it is particularly helpful for British citizens who have children abroad and don't want the multi-month wait for a first British passport to bring their newborn to the UK. See guidance: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6490650b5f7bb7000c7fad3a/…
    – MJeffryes
    Commented Oct 29 at 15:48
  • @jcaron the border force doesn't really need proof of British citizenship per se; they need proof of the right of abode. They told aiphos that it was necessary to prove British citizenship because aiphos's right of abode stems from British citizenship.
    – phoog
    Commented Oct 29 at 16:16
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    @jcaron Yes, in many cases it is quicker to get a foreign passport and the certificate than it is to get a UK passport. In some countries it can take over 6 months for a first UK passport.
    – MJeffryes
    Commented Oct 30 at 13:30
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This has happened as a result of Brexit: with only an Italian passport you are considered to be just an Italian citizen and you are no longer allowed to live and work in the UK without a relevant visa or permit, so it’s legitimate they ask for proof of UK citizenship.

You write:

I think it's crazy to have to buy a UK passport just for the purpose of entering my own country.

Well, you need some way to actually prove that you are. Otherwise anybody can just tell them “hey let me in I’m British, I swear”.

Italy is not competent to state whether you are British or not, and the UK won’t issue visas to their own citizens, so no, there’s nothing which can be done in your Italian passport for that purpose. By far the simplest way is to have a UK passport.

In other countries you could have used a national ID card, but that doesn’t exist in the UK.

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    There actually is something that can be done with an Italian passport to prove the traveller’s right of abode in the UK. A certificate of entitlement can be endorsed in the Italian passport.
    – JohnDoe
    Commented Oct 27 at 18:14
  • Of course they can ask someone with Italian passport whether they have either a British passport or a visa for Italian citizens. Most dual citizens won’t have this visa (it might even be impossible to get since it isn’t needed)
    – gnasher729
    Commented Oct 28 at 7:33
  • @gnasher729 the reason for the existence of the certificate of entitlement is precisely because the UK does not issue visas to British citizens. The reason for the excessively high cost of the certificate of entitlement is a mystery to me.
    – phoog
    Commented Oct 29 at 14:36
  • @phoog See my comment on MJeffryes's answer. Not quite what a certificate of entitlement is (from what I understand).
    – jcaron
    Commented Oct 29 at 15:35
  • @jcaron a certificate of entitlement is a visa-like sticker that goes in a foreign passport to serve as proof that the bearer has right of abode in the UK, which all British citizens have. A British citizen who does not want a British passport can get a certificate of entitlement instead. What part of this is inconsistent with your understanding?
    – phoog
    Commented Oct 29 at 16:11
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As a British citizen you have nothing to fear from the UK Border Force

You write...

They let me through, but border force said to me I need to prove in some way I am British next time.

The border force has ~zero power over you as a British citizen. They can't ban you from your own country - and even if such a "ban" was issued, it would have no legal effect whatsoever. They can hold you up for secondary inspection but no matter how annoyed they are about your lack of British passport, there's not much they can do about it other than grumble and then let you through.

From April 2nd 2025 Italian citizens will be required to pre-apply for Electronic Travel Authorization beefore flying to the UK, however I doubt you'd be prevented from doing so using your Italian passport. It would be an extra hassle but possibly still cheaper than bothering to get a British passport.

Would I personally go get a British passport? Yes, definitely.

Is it absolutely necessary? Nope, you can keep doing what you do, it is your legal right to do so.

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    What guarantee do you have that you will be treated as British if you have no proof that you are? And even if you are eventually able to prove it, they can hold you in a cell until you do so.
    – Jack Aidley
    Commented Oct 29 at 12:04
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    Also, the Border Force absolutely have power over British citizens which they are able to use for matters of customs and excise as well as counter-terrorism.
    – Jack Aidley
    Commented Oct 29 at 12:07
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    "there's not much they can do about it other than grumble and then let you through": this is only true to the extent that they believe the claim of British citizenship. It's not enough simply to be a British citizen; you have to be able to convince them that you are. If they're saying that OP needs to be able to prove this, then at some point they could well start making it more difficult, for example by being (or pretending to be) more skeptical of whatever evidence is actually presented.
    – phoog
    Commented Oct 29 at 14:34
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    @phoog eh, if you're an experienced traveler who doesn't care much about a potential border delay you have nothing to fear from the Border Force. They can delay your journey a bit but at the end of the day OP is not violating any laws by traveling with an Italian passport. If you're a citizen the government works for you, not the other way around, though of course you should always be polite and courteous.
    – JonathanReez ♦
    Commented Oct 30 at 0:24
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    @JonathanReez: I think the number of people who would consider being held in a cell "a fun adventure" is relatively small, even on top of the inconvenience and potential cost of having your arrival delayed by hours.
    – Jack Aidley
    Commented Oct 30 at 9:03

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