A UK citizen living in France has described how he was asked to consider a DNA test to prove his paternity after applying for a British passport for his teenage daughter, under new post-Brexit rules that require dual nationals to hold a UK passport to enter the country.
The man, identified only as BN, said his daughter is unable to see her grandparents in the UK because of the requirement. He is a UK citizen married to a French national, and the family lives in France. Their two older children hold both French and UK passports, but their third child, born while they were living in Zimbabwe, only has a French passport.
Application process and paternity evidence
BN began the passport application for his daughter in February. He submitted photos of his wife when pregnant, family photos from the birth to the present day, hospital records, and official translations of French marriage and birth certificates. During an official interview, he was asked about his job, commute, and the layout of his house, but little about his relationship with his daughter.
He was then told there was insufficient evidence to prove his paternity and was invited to consider a DNA test, which would cost £600 and take more time. BN said the family needs to visit his elderly father, who is unwell in the UK, but cannot risk it in case his daughter is denied boarding.
New rules and their impact
The rules, which came into force in February, effectively deny entry to the UK to dual national Britons who do not have a British passport. Foreign nationals can enter freely on passports issued by their country of residence, but expats cannot unless they pay £589 for a certificate of entitlement. The law has caused chaos, with children being stranded abroad or arbitrarily denied a passport granted to their siblings.
Since the UK government is not accepting that BN's daughter is a UK national, he asked if she could travel on her French passport, but no one could answer the question. As a result, the family faces Christmas apart from his parents.
Home Office rules and outcome
Home Office rules state that officials must consider a passport application on the “balance of probability” if an applicant refuses a DNA test. They must also explain why an application is refused. BN was never told why his copious proofs of paternity were deemed inadequate.
The Home Office will not comment on individual cases, but it did say that additional evidence, such as the layout of a home, may be requested to add “credible authenticity”. Soon afterwards, BN was informed that the application had been accepted after all, despite no new paperwork having been sought since April.
