A British family has been left stranded in Europe after their 11-month-old baby was denied boarding a flight home from Spain due to recently introduced travel regulations for dual nationals.
Family's Holiday Nightmare
Sarah Rodgers, 30, and her husband Philipp, 34, from Ellon, Aberdeenshire, were preparing to fly home from Alicante last week when they were informed at the departure gate that their daughter Lily, born in Scotland, did not possess the required documentation. The family, including their three-year-old daughter Heidi, had been unaware of the new Border Rules for dual British Nationals, which came into effect weeks earlier.
Lily holds an Austrian EU passport but has not yet obtained a British passport. Under the new rules, dual citizens must present a valid British passport or Certificate of Entitlement to enter the UK. The family now faces the prospect of being stuck in Europe for up to ten weeks while waiting for Lily's British passport application to be processed.
No Emergency Documentation
The couple attempted to secure emergency travel documents but were refused, with authorities deeming the situation not an emergency. They have since traveled to Austria, Philipp's native country, to stay with relatives and avoid costly hotel bills. The family has spent £180 on one night's accommodation in Alicante and faces additional expenses.
Sarah expressed frustration: "It's just a ridiculous situation. We had no idea we wouldn't be able to return home. No one can give us answers or help." The family has been passed between departments and received little assistance.
Travel Rule Changes
The rules changed on February 25 as part of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system rollout, which requires visitors to the UK without a visa to obtain entry clearance before traveling. The family believed their British citizenship would exempt them, but Lily's lack of a British passport caused the issue.
Sarah added: "When we booked, it said if you are not British you need an ETA. But we are British, so we thought it didn't apply. At the gate, they said our baby didn't have the right documentation. Her Austrian passport shows her place of birth in the UK, but that wasn't enough."
Ongoing Challenges
Lily cannot apply for an ETA as a UK citizen, and the family has considered traveling via Ireland, but that route may also be blocked. Sarah worries that if Lily's passport application takes longer than 90 days, they may breach EU travel regulations. She said: "We're lucky to have somewhere to stay in Austria, but if not, it would be unaffordable. The UK Government is failing its own citizen."
A Home Office spokesperson stated: "From 25 February 2026, all dual British citizens need to present a valid British passport or Certificate of Entitlement when traveling to the UK. Public information has been available since October 2024. This requirement applies to all British citizens, taking the same approach as other countries."
