With the end of the Electronic Travel Authorisation system’s ‘tolerance period’ approaching, British readers of The Local have slammed unclear government guidance about a rule change meaning dual nationals must enter the country on a valid UK passport.
British dual nationals have blasted a rule change that means they must enter the UK with a British passport when new border rules come into force from February.
Ahead of the end of the ‘tolerance period’ of the Electronic Travel Authorisation system (ETA) from February 25th, British dual nationals have been targeted with official messaging suggesting that they will only be able to enter the UK if they have a valid British passport or a pricey certificate of entitlement.
Those without the correct paperwork could even be denied boarding or turned away at the border, British authorities have suggested.
READ ALSO: Will British dual nationals really be forced to have a valid UK passport from February?
British dual nationals blast passport demand
With the system due for full rollout in a matter weeks, British dual nationals and readers of The Local have voiced their concern about the rule change, mixed messaging from the government, and also outlined reasons why UK nationals living in a foreign country might reasonably not have a valid British passport (although they do, of course, have a valid passport of their other nationality).
For reader Glenn, he simply wants the UK government to issue a statement allowing dual-nationals to get an ETA with their foreign passport. Currently they risk being accused of making a false declaration if they do this (more on this below).
“Please, for God’s sake [UK Gov], clarify this point!” he said. “State that anyone with UK citizenship must use a valid UK passport when entering UK (like USA, Canada, Australia do), or allow ETA on their foreign passports. I have renewed my UK passport about 2 years ago, after letting expire for a number of years, but my children haven’t. Buying a UK passport is a great expense for some, especially if it is just for occasional visits.”
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Another reader of The Local raised the scenario facing those who have “renounced” their British passports in Spain to become Spanish.
“On obtaining my Spanish nationality I renounced my British before a Spanish judge,” the commenter said. “This is not actually recognised by the UK who consider me a dual national. But I can’t use a British passport otherwise I could lose my Spanish nationality. This is a ridiculous situation. I should be able to obtain an ETA on my Spanish passport without “lying” in the process.”
Dawn, a dual UK-Swedish national, also raised the cost issue and outlined some of the reasons why Brits abroad might not have valid passports anymore.
“I am a Brit who has lived in Sweden for over 20 years,” she explained. “I have a Swedish passport. My UK passport lapsed many years ago. I have no need for a UK passport (very expensive), and about 6 years ago when I went to England, I could happily use my Swedish passport. So yes, it’s absolutely possible for a dual national citizen to not have a UK passport. I’m considering how to relinquish my British nationality to avoid this crazy bureaucracy!” she added.
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Commenting on the British Embassy in Sweden’s Facebook page Garry Jones raised the issue of the many children born to British parents abroad who may never have had a British passport, but are automatically considered dual nationals by the UK.
“Are you seriously telling us that millions of people who qualify for automatic British citizenship through descent are now going to be put in a legally impossible situation just because they have never been registered in the UK?,” he said.
“These people routinely travel on the foreign passport they grew up with. When the ETA form asks whether they have another citizenship, they answer no because they genuinely do not know they are dual British or they know but don’t want to instigate the long and costly process of being registered with the British authorities in order to apply for a British passport.
“The present situation is inconsistent, unenforceable, and penalises the people who are actually following the rules.”
‘Home Office needs a reboot’
“If it is okay for us to bypass the dual national declaration and obtain the ETA under false pretences then they should say so. Otherwise they should add the GBR category to the app. Or tell us what do to.”
One anonymous reader stated on Facebook that this vague guidance is “par for the course for the Home Office, which has been dysfunctional for as long as I can remember. Needs a total reboot.”
Others are more cynical about the dual-passport requirement: “Sounds like a money making racket! How can it be legal? If I have an Australian passport I should be able to travel with that, and an ETA? Penalised for holding dual citizenship,” added one commenter.
“This is money making,” agreed reader agreed. “What is wrong with us travelling on Australian passport… been there many times and no issues?”
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What are the rules?
Ever since the launch of ETA, there has been confusion when it comes to British dual nationals. The UK Home Office has done little to allay these fears, but for a full breakdown of the rules, or what is understood of them so far, at least, read The Local’s explainer here.
In short: British or Irish nationals travelling on their UK or Irish passport do not require the electronic travel authorisation known as the ETA.
Many British dual nationals, however, will require one and might not have a British passport anymore. These people have always previously had the option of simply using their other passport to enter the UK but the rule change makes this more difficult, if not impossible.
This is because the website and app used to apply for the ETA demands that people list any other nationalities they posses – but does not allow applicants to selected ‘British’ as another nationality – meaning that dual nationals cannot truthfully complete the ETA application and travel on their other passport. They would therefore be at risk of being accused of making a false declaration if they hadn’t applied for and paid for a new passport (for £108) or a a Certificate of Entitlement, which costs £589.
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Recent travel guidance updated by the UK government on January 22nd states “The Home Office is advising British dual citizens to make sure they have a valid UK or Irish passport or certificate of entitlement if they will be travelling on or after that date. If they don’t, they may not be able to board their transport to the UK.”
Any British nationals arriving in the UK without a valid passport could also face “additional identity checks to verify your citizenship before you can go through UK passport control.”
Messaging from the UK government has repeatedly been mixed and the guidance vague.
It also outlines that “the introduction of an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) requirement for non-visa national visitors means that it is now more difficult for people with dual citizenship for the UK and a non-visa national country to use their foreign passport to travel to the UK.”
More difficult, but not impossible? We probably won’t know until February 25th.
Please share your own views and experiences below.
