Can I enter the UK on my expired British passport if I have a valid South African passport?
I have a valid South African passport and an expired British passport - it expired 18 October 2009. I need to travel to the UK in March 2015. Do I need a visa to get into the UK?
Best Answer
If you want to enter the UK as a British citizen and you have an expired UK passport, your case is covered by Paragraph 12 of the Immigration Rules...
A person claiming to be a British citizen must prove that he has the right of abode in the United Kingdom by producing either:
(i) a United Kingdom passport describing him as a British citizen or as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies having the right of abode in the United Kingdom; or
(ii) a certificate of entitlement duly issued by or on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom certifying that he has the right of abode.
If you want to enter the UK as a British citizen, you need to show them a UK passport. There is no stipulation in the rule that says the passport must be current. However, the keyword in this rule is 'describing', so the passport needs to reasonably sync up with your appearance, age, and so on.
As always, carry a print out of Paragraph 12 with you when you travel. It's the so-called "letter of the law" and you can't get more authoritative than that.
Adding: if, instead you want to enter the UK as a South African citizen, you will need an entry clearance prior to arrival.
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Can I enter South Africa on my British passport if my South African passport has expired?
Your passport should be valid for at least 30 days beyond your intended date of exit from South Africa, in line with South African immigration regulations. However, some immigration officials still request that a passport should have at least 6 months validity on the date of entry to South Africa.Can I travel back to the UK with an expired British passport?
Re: Can I travel back to the UK with an expired Passport? No. If your passport has expired, you don't have a passport, just an entitlement to one.Can I enter the UK if my passport is about to expire?
There is no minimum validity requirement, other than "duration of intended stay". There are some countries that require six months validity (and some more that require three), but the UK isn't one of them. All you need is a valid passport.Can I travel back to my home country with an expired passport UK?
No, you can't travel back to your country on an expired passport if your passport expires while you're away. In fact, if your passport is due to expire before the return flight to your country, you won't be allowed to enter the country that you're visiting in the first place.HELP! Has my UK Passport expired because of Brexit 2021?
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