Important Reminder for Dual Nationals

What is a dual national? A dual national holds nationality in more than one country. Whether you're a dual national depends on the laws of both countries. When you're a dual national, it's important to understand how each country expects its citizens to enter and exit.

Some common examples:

As you'll be well aware by now, dual citizens with British or Irish citizenship are not eligible for an ETA. Dual citizens will need to prove citizenship using a valid British or Irish passport or valid passport containing a certificate of entitlement for travel.  This will be strictly enforced from 25 February 2026 following a grace period that has been in place since the ETA was introduced in January 2025.

U.S. law requires all U.S. citizens to enter and leave the U.S. on a U.S. passport. Even if you hold another citizenship, you must use your U.S. passport when arriving in or departing from the U.S. A U.S. citizen with an expired passport cannot enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA).

Canadian citizens cannot enter Canada on an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Dual citizens need a valid Canadian passport to enter Canada.

South African dual national you may not be allowed to enter or exit South Africa on an Australian passport. By law dual nationals are required to enter and exit on a South African passport.

Individuals who lost their South African citizenship between October 1995 and May 2025 due to acquiring citizenship of another country are now deemed not to have lost their citizenship, and may have had their citizenship reinstated without being notified.

Extra Tips: 

Always carry both passports when traveling between your countries of citizenship.

Make sure both are valid (not expired), with enough blank pages and the correct validity for your travels.

Airlines typically want to see the passport that allows entry into the destination country without a visa, so you may need to show both at check-in.

When travellers hold more than one nationality, visa or entry requirements can differ based on which passport is used, including when transiting. If your customer is unsure of their dual-citizen status, or has further questions regarding their specific personal circumstances, please advise them to contact the relevant embassy or consulate for clarification.