The British High Commissioner says she is sorry dual citizens are finding a change to passport requirements hard to adjust to.
Worried travellers say the need to travel on a UK passport from next month had come like a bombshell.
RNZ revealed earlier this month that from February, anyone who was born in Britain - or has citizenship there - will no longer be able to travel to the UK without a British passport.
From 25 February, people travelling to the UK will need a visa, an electronic travel authority (ETA) or a valid UK passport. What documentation travellers need depends on their nationality and the purpose of their visit.
The UK's representative in Wellington, Iona Thomas, said the UK had been in touch with the New Zealand government ahead of the changes.
"New Zealand nationals going to the UK for a visit will need an electronic travel authorisation. This can be applied for online," Thomas told reporters.
"However, the UK's ETA system only applies to non-British nationals. If you have held, or currently hold British citizenship, including if you are a dual national, you cannot use an ETA to enter the UK. You must travel on a British passport or another passport with a certificate of entitlement."
These changes apply even for short visits.
"These changes are part of the UK's move to a more secure digital border, which many other countries, such as Australia and Canada, have already introduced... For those who are dual UK nationals, immigration law means that if you're a citizen, even a dual one, you're entitled to enter the UK, and therefore you do not need and cannot use an ETA.
"If people are unsure about whether they have British citizenship, this is something you can check online at gov.uk/check-british-citizenship. Our message is simple. Check your documents early and apply well ahead to avoid travel disruption."
Questioned on what will happen to people who do not know about the change, or only find out at the airport, she said she was raising awareness of the new rules.
"With all international travel, it's up to airlines to make sure that people have the right documentation to travel," she said. "A more streamlined and digital immigration system will be more secure and quicker for millions of people who pass through the UK border each year."
She did not answer questions on who would count as a citizen, including children and descendants of citizens.
"Everyone's circumstances will be different. Their nationality will depend on where they were born and where their parents were born."
Some citizens have been upset at what they believe was poor communication of the change, but Thomas said it had been sharing information since October 2024.
"That information has been on social media. It's been on the gov.uk website. We've also engaged with travel operators to make sure that they're aware of that change."
Pressed about whether she understood why travellers would be frustrated, she acknowledged it could be hard for people dealing with the changes.
"I do understand that travelling can be very stressful and making arrangements for travel can be difficult, and so I am sorry that people are finding these changes difficult. But it is important that people travel with the right documentation all the time, and that's why we're getting the message out now that people need to check their status and apply early."
Worried British travellers have accused the UK government of revenue- or data-grabbing, and failing to introduce the changes using an effective communications strategy.
"These changes are part of the UK's move to a more secure digital border, which many other countries, such as Australia and Canada, have already introduced," Thomas said.
"A more streamlined and digital immigration system will be more secure and quicker for millions of people who pass through the UK border each year.
"The introduction of electronic travel authorisations for travellers who are not British citizens or do not require a visa gives greater power to stop those people who pose a threat from setting foot in the UK, and it gives the UK a fuller picture of immigration. This is in line with an approach that many other countries have taken to border security."
Many dual citizens have imminent travel dates and are nervously waiting for their passports to arrive. Thomas did not directly answer a question about the current demand for passports, which is believed to be significantly higher a fortnight after the news of the change first broke.
Previously, dual citizens have been able to visit on a New Zealand passport, more recently with an ETA, an electronic online declaration costing about $37.
The British government said that was only ever meant to be a transitional measure.
Citizens of other countries said they too are affected by a similar global tightening of borders and passport rules.
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