Dual British nationals have been warned they may be denied entry to the UK from 25 February unless they carry a valid British passport, under new border controls that require a £589 'certificate of entitlement' for those using a second nationality passport. The Home Office says the change is part of a digitisation programme to enable a 'seamless travel experience' and strengthen border security.
British people living abroad have complained that the rules were poorly communicated and are causing distress. One British woman in Germany, who has dual nationality, said she fears her children will be affected, particularly her son due to travel to the UK in four weeks. 'I’m really annoyed about being treated as Brexit collateral once again with this short-notice, shortsighted, arbitrary change of the rules,' she said.
Another dual national, a British woman in Spain for over 30 years who took Spanish citizenship after Brexit, faces a dilemma: Spain requires renunciation of previous nationality, so presenting her British passport could legally risk her Spanish nationality. She said the rules will affect many children of British citizens born in Spain who have never held a British passport but are recorded as dual nationals.
A British Italian man, born and educated in London, booked a work trip to New York on his Italian passport and returns after 25 February. He cannot get an ETA or a British passport in time, and the weeks-long backlog for the certificate of entitlement makes it impossible to obtain before his flight. 'I found myself having to travel at short notice and am now facing the idea that I may not be allowed back into the country,' he said.
The EU citizens' campaign group The 3 million called for a low-cost, one-off travel authorisation similar to Canada's, instead of the £589 certificate. Monique Hawkins, head of policy and advocacy, said: 'The UK already has the technology to do the same, so we urge them to act now to ensure British citizens are not locked out of their own country.'
