Entering the UK- or going to happen now

Calendargirl

Speaking as the mum of a DD who married an Aussie and has lived there longer than she lived in this country, (she has British and Aussie passports).

We visited them last year, first time since Covid, and the information we had to supply to get our ETA’s was much more involved than the previous times we went.

Passports, birth certificates, I think marriage certificate as well, photos…

When I told DD, she said if it got us our visa, did it matter?

It was quite comprehensive for just a family visit, but perhaps that’s why Australia’s borders are a different kettle of fish to the UK!

We've always had to supply passport details - surely that gives them all the information they need?

Marriage and birth certificates? 😲

but your opening racist remark about Calais probably alerted a lot of people (me included ) to be on guard

racist?

It is delineating the line between illegal and legal entry to a country.
There are, of course, many other illegal immigrants who enter in different way or overstay their visas. Some are European.

This is why some of the new rules for visas introduced overnight last year caused chaos, confusion and distress to some, when their families had to cancel planned visits because of a decision designed to show that the Government were tackling illegal immigration.

It was ridiculous.

Mamie

Allira

nanna8

I’d love to know how my grandchildren are listed at British . You tell me. Quite frightening really, Big Brother and all that. Their mother was born in the UK and left aged 1 . Why should I renounce Britishness ? I was born there. Anyway it is immaterial because we won’t be going there. The girls will,though and then round Europe. They are coughing up their $ 500 even though they had already paid for an entry visa anyway. I don’t like some of the comments here and didn’t realise just how rude some are. Life I suppose, I tell myself to get used to it. And, just for the record, I love the UK ,just not the government and the bureaucracy. Don’t like that here, either.

It is dependent upon when they were born, apparently.
Designed to confuse 😀

www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-british-parent/born-on-or-after-1-july-2006

I had already read that link about six times and still can't work out the status of my granddaughter. Born 2008, British father living and working in Spain for 10 years, Spanish mother, parents married. Never applied for British citizenship. Is she or isn't she?

14 pages and we're still confused! 😂

Perhaps that just applies to Commonwealth countries, Mamie

I'll read more of the link.

Whoops wrong thread 😂😂

If posters want to posit the position that members of the RF are entitled to privacy, then they should make it clear what areas of their lives this covers on a thread focusing on contact with JE.

The Past
UK entry statistics have been reasonably solid for controlled migrants but miss some groups. Exit statistics have historically suffered from significant data gaps and quality issues.

The Present
Recent digital changes like the ETA and digital visas are improving the raw data available, which should lead to better statistical matching over time.

The Future
Full and accurate count of people leaving the UK depends on ongoing digital border developments and better integration of all travel modes.

I would call that good governance.

I think the whole point is that Nanna's grandchildren who have never claimed British citizenship would like to travel to UK and the rest of Europe on their Australian passports accompanied by the much cheaper ETAs, just like other Australian citizens can. They had no interest or desire to apply for British passports or citizenship but are being told they have to if they want to travel to the UK. It does seem bizarre.

Calendargirl

Speaking as the mum of a DD who married an Aussie and has lived there longer than she lived in this country, (she has British and Aussie passports).

We visited them last year, first time since Covid, and the information we had to supply to get our ETA’s was much more involved than the previous times we went.

Passports, birth certificates, I think marriage certificate as well, photos…

When I told DD, she said if it got us our visa, did it matter?

It was quite comprehensive for just a family visit, but perhaps that’s why Australia’s borders are a different kettle of fish to the UK!

I thought biometric passports meant the ETA for Australia was really straightforward. I wonder why it isn’t?

Speaking as the mum of a DD who married an Aussie and has lived there longer than she lived in this country, (she has British and Aussie passports).

We visited them last year, first time since Covid, and the information we had to supply to get our ETA’s was much more involved than the previous times we went.

Passports, birth certificates, I think marriage certificate as well, photos…

When I told DD, she said if it got us our visa, did it matter?

It was quite comprehensive for just a family visit, but perhaps that’s why Australia’s borders are a different kettle of fish to the UK!

I think that's quite common practice, nanna.
I paid for an ESTA to go on holiday to the USA.
I might, or might not, think that the authorities in the USA are " horrible, nasty, money grabbing people" but it's part of the cost. At least the form was comparatively simple, unlike the form to enter India, or the one for Russia, both of which are mind numbingly complicated.

Allira

^You’ve described the UK as “frightening” and compared administrative processes to “Big Brother,” and said you wouldn’t go there. For people who actually live here, that can come across as exaggerated and dismissive, especially when the issue is a fairly standard citizenship/visa process that many countries (including Australia) operate in some form.^

I think, DAR, that nanna8 is probably very anxious about her granddaughters, who may not have left Australia before or travelled without family, travelling around the UK and Europe.
Many of us in the UK may have felt the same when our children went off, full of enthusiasm, travelling to Asia and Australia at that age.
Now our grandchildren may be reaching that age and I can understand the feeling. Best to express it to others than show them your anxieties.

I’m actually in a very similar position, as my dual-nationality granddaughter will be travelling after she finishes school this year, including to the UK, so I do understand how unsettling that can feel for family.

However, the references to “Big Brother” and “little boats” were comments about UK policy, not about teenagers travelling. That’s what people were responding to — the tone of the remarks, rather than any understandable anxiety about grandchildren.

Allira

nanna8

I’d love to know how my grandchildren are listed at British . You tell me. Quite frightening really, Big Brother and all that. Their mother was born in the UK and left aged 1 . Why should I renounce Britishness ? I was born there. Anyway it is immaterial because we won’t be going there. The girls will,though and then round Europe. They are coughing up their $ 500 even though they had already paid for an entry visa anyway. I don’t like some of the comments here and didn’t realise just how rude some are. Life I suppose, I tell myself to get used to it. And, just for the record, I love the UK ,just not the government and the bureaucracy. Don’t like that here, either.

It is dependent upon when they were born, apparently.
Designed to confuse 😀

www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-british-parent/born-on-or-after-1-july-2006

I had already read that link about six times and still can't work out the status of my granddaughter. Born 2008, British father living and working in Spain for 10 years, Spanish mother, parents married. Never applied for British citizenship. Is she or isn't she?

GN research efforts at their best. Have you been thanked yet?

You’ve described the UK as “frightening” and compared administrative processes to “Big Brother,” and said you wouldn’t go there. For people who actually live here, that can come across as exaggerated and dismissive, especially when the issue is a fairly standard citizenship/visa process that many countries (including Australia) operate in some form.

I think, DAR, that nanna8 is probably very anxious about her granddaughters, who may not have left Australia before or travelled without family, travelling around the UK and Europe.
Many of us in the UK may have felt the same when our children went off, full of enthusiasm, travelling to Asia and Australia at that age.
Now our grandchildren may be reaching that age and I can understand the feeling. Best to express it to others than show them your anxieties.

nanna8

I’d love to know how my grandchildren are listed at British . You tell me. Quite frightening really, Big Brother and all that. Their mother was born in the UK and left aged 1 . Why should I renounce Britishness ? I was born there. Anyway it is immaterial because we won’t be going there. The girls will,though and then round Europe. They are coughing up their $ 500 even though they had already paid for an entry visa anyway. I don’t like some of the comments here and didn’t realise just how rude some are. Life I suppose, I tell myself to get used to it. And, just for the record, I love the UK ,just not the government and the bureaucracy. Don’t like that here, either.

It is dependent upon when they were born, apparently.
Designed to confuse 😀

www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-british-parent/born-on-or-after-1-july-2006

nanna8

I’d love to know how my grandchildren are listed at British . You tell me. Quite frightening really, Big Brother and all that. Their mother was born in the UK and left aged 1 . Why should I renounce Britishness ? I was born there. Anyway it is immaterial because we won’t be going there. The girls will,though and then round Europe. They are coughing up their $ 500 even though they had already paid for an entry visa anyway. I don’t like some of the comments here and didn’t realise just how rude some are. Life I suppose, I tell myself to get used to it. And, just for the record, I love the UK ,just not the government and the bureaucracy. Don’t like that here, either.

I’d love to know how my grandchildren are listed at British . You tell me.

If they are then it's news to me!

My DGC is because his British mother applied for him and had to send off documentary proof and go through the process of citizenship being granted then a passport being issued. Before then he was Australian, with single nationality.
She already had dual nationality.
It made it easier for travelling here if they both are.
His father cannot apply for British nationality.

NotSpaghetti

nana the link is the parents.
That's it.

Previously, an Australian child could just fly to the UK as a tourist. Now, they need an ETA to board the plane.
​The Problem: When you apply for an ETA for the child, the Home Office system checks the parent's details

If the system sees the parent is a British citizen, it may flag that the child is potentially a British citizen by descent.
​The Denied Entry: British citizens are legally ineligible for an ETA. If the system decides the child is British, it will refuse the ETA. Without an ETA, the airline will not let the child board the plane on an Australian passport.
​
​If they somehow get on the plane and arrive at a manual passport desk the border officer will see "Place of Birth: Australia" but will be trained to notice the child is traveling with a British parent.
Under the Immigration Act 1971, the "burden of proof" is on the traveler.

In the past: They would probably be let in "with a warning".
​In 2026: They may be delayed for hours while their status is verified.

The shared data came from the 1946 UKUSA Agreement to data share for international safety. It developed into Five Eyes
​The "Migration 5" is a subset of the alliance that shares biometric data (fingerprints and facial scans) and immigration history. As of February 2026, this sharing has shifted from "manual requests" (where an officer had to choose to look you up) to automated, real-time matching for everyone.

Previously, an Australian child could just fly to the UK as a tourist. Now, they need an ETA to board the plane.
​^The Problem: When you apply for an ETA for the child, the Home Office system checks the parent's details^

If the system sees the parent is a British citizen, it may flag that the child is potentially a British citizen by descent.
​^The Denied Entry: British citizens are legally ineligible for an ETA. If the system decides the child is British, it will refuse the ETA. Without an ETA, the airline will not let the child board the plane on an Australian passport^

But, even if the parent could apply for British citizenship for their child(ren) does not mean they should not not be denied entry, surely?
They are not British citizens until the parent applies for such and has to provide documentation and go through the process.
At one time only the child of a British father could apply then they included descent from the mother too.

But until application is made and granted, they are not British citizens.

This is why people are confused and some are angry - it's unclear.

Calendargirl

Not sure why they are paying $500 Nanna.

I have looked it up, the cost looks about $300 Australian dollars, that includes the courier fee.

Around £120 for the passport, and about £20 or so for the courier fee.

This price was for January 2026, maybe it’s gone up, but by $200?

Perhaps that's for two?

NotSpaghetti

nana the link is the parents.
That's it.

Previously, an Australian child could just fly to the UK as a tourist. Now, they need an ETA to board the plane.
​The Problem: When you apply for an ETA for the child, the Home Office system checks the parent's details

If the system sees the parent is a British citizen, it may flag that the child is potentially a British citizen by descent.
​The Denied Entry: British citizens are legally ineligible for an ETA. If the system decides the child is British, it will refuse the ETA. Without an ETA, the airline will not let the child board the plane on an Australian passport.
​
​If they somehow get on the plane and arrive at a manual passport desk the border officer will see "Place of Birth: Australia" but will be trained to notice the child is traveling with a British parent.
Under the Immigration Act 1971, the "burden of proof" is on the traveler.

In the past: They would probably be let in "with a warning".
​In 2026: They may be delayed for hours while their status is verified.

The shared data came from the 1946 UKUSA Agreement to data share for international safety. It developed into Five Eyes
​The "Migration 5" is a subset of the alliance that shares biometric data (fingerprints and facial scans) and immigration history. As of February 2026, this sharing has shifted from "manual requests" (where an officer had to choose to look you up) to automated, real-time matching for everyone.

Thank you for explaining how the parents would be checked for the ETA. I've asked several times how the connection would be made and that is the first explanation I've heard.

nanna8

I’d love to know how my grandchildren are listed at British . You tell me. Quite frightening really, Big Brother and all that. Their mother was born in the UK and left aged 1 . Why should I renounce Britishness ? I was born there. Anyway it is immaterial because we won’t be going there. The girls will,though and then round Europe. They are coughing up their $ 500 even though they had already paid for an entry visa anyway. I don’t like some of the comments here and didn’t realise just how rude some are. Life I suppose, I tell myself to get used to it. And, just for the record, I love the UK ,just not the government and the bureaucracy. Don’t like that here, either.

I don’t think anyone here has been rude. People have disagreed with you, which isn’t the same thing.

You’ve described the UK as “frightening” and compared administrative processes to “Big Brother,” and said you wouldn’t go there. For people who actually live here, that can come across as exaggerated and dismissive, especially when the issue is a fairly standard citizenship/visa process that many countries (including Australia) operate in some form.

No one is forcing you to renounce anything. If your grandchildren are British through their mother, that’s just how nationality law works - it’s not surveillance or a political statement. It’s simply legal status based on parentage.

It’s absolutely fine to criticise governments and bureaucracy - most of us do, including our own. But criticising policy is different from portraying an entire country as somewhere to be afraid of. That’s probably why some people pushed back.

This could all have been avoided if you d kept two passports as many people feel the need to do.
You have had answers you may not like Nana8 or feel were not kind, but your opening racist remark about Calais probably alerted a lot of people (me included ) to be on guard. Then you went on to wrongly blame our government, threaten to vote against them etc etc when none of that is your business, you must concern yourself with your adopted countries government.
You chose 50 years ago to make a new life and good for you, but you can’t now interfere in our lives, or jump up and down because you made a mistake.
I have two grandkids travelling around Australia (not together) and the rest of the Far East and they need to pay for visas and all sorts of extra stuff to get into your and the other countries, as your grandkids coming this way now need to do, it’s life, travel isn’t easy or cheap.
Move on and stop being so furious because you made a mistake There's lots of troubles in the world, a lot more than visas.

nana the link is the parents.
That's it.

Previously, an Australian child could just fly to the UK as a tourist. Now, they need an ETA to board the plane.
​The Problem: When you apply for an ETA for the child, the Home Office system checks the parent's details

If the system sees the parent is a British citizen, it may flag that the child is potentially a British citizen by descent.
​The Denied Entry: British citizens are legally ineligible for an ETA. If the system decides the child is British, it will refuse the ETA. Without an ETA, the airline will not let the child board the plane on an Australian passport.
​
​If they somehow get on the plane and arrive at a manual passport desk the border officer will see "Place of Birth: Australia" but will be trained to notice the child is traveling with a British parent.
Under the Immigration Act 1971, the "burden of proof" is on the traveler.

In the past: They would probably be let in "with a warning".
​In 2026: They may be delayed for hours while their status is verified.

The shared data came from the 1946 UKUSA Agreement to data share for international safety. It developed into Five Eyes
​The "Migration 5" is a subset of the alliance that shares biometric data (fingerprints and facial scans) and immigration history. As of February 2026, this sharing has shifted from "manual requests" (where an officer had to choose to look you up) to automated, real-time matching for everyone.

I think the problem is that the rules for "British by Descent" status are complicated and depend on when the child was born. This is from the gov.uk pages.
"If you were born outside the UK British citizenship is normally automatically passed down one generation to children born outside the UK.
For example, you might automatically become a citizen if you’re born outside the UK to a British parent. But your children will not automatically be citizens if they’re born outside the UK.
If you’re not automatically a citizen, you may be eligible to apply to ‘register’ as one.
Check your eligibility if you were born:
on or after 1 July 2006
between 1983 and June 2006
before 1983".
So my two Spanish grandchildren seem to have different rights.
They have never applied for British citizenship.

Not sure why they are paying $500 Nanna.

I have looked it up, the cost looks about $300 Australian dollars, that includes the courier fee.

Around £120 for the passport, and about £20 or so for the courier fee.

This price was for January 2026, maybe it’s gone up, but by $200?

If they were dual nationals with a different country and wanted to go there it would be the same after this regulation is implemented.

It's not actually a UK thing.