Recent changes to UK border regulations mandate that British dual nationals must present a UK passport when re-entering Britain or provide a "certificate of entitlement" for holders of non-UK passports. This requirement, effective from 25 February, has drawn criticism for being particularly discriminatory towards women with dual citizenship, especially those who have changed their names after marriage. Campaigners highlight that the costs and bureaucratic hurdles posed by these rules disproportionately affect women who have married foreign nationals and whose naming conventions differ from UK customs.

In Greece, for instance, women are not permitted to change their maiden name upon marriage, which can lead to complications if their British passport bears their married name. This situation creates confusion at the borders because of the mismatch between names on the UK passport and the local identification that carries the maiden name. Similarly, in Spain, British nationals often have double surnames on their official documents, which complicates the name verification process against the singular surname typically used on a British passport. This discrepancy can lead to travel disruptions and increased scrutiny based on outdated and rigid naming conventions.

The implications of these regulations stretch beyond personal inconvenience, potentially hindering women's rights and accessibility in travel. By enforcing these name-match rules, the government appears to overlook or undervalue the complexities of modern family structures and traditional naming conventions across different cultures. Critics argue for a review and reconsideration of such policies to ensure they do not inadvertently penalize specific groups within the dual national population, emphasizing the need for more inclusive and practical border regulations, which fully consider the diversity of identity and personal circumstances.