Entering the UK- or going to happen now

Lathyrus3

It’s that weird thing people have when they leave a place and their life moves on, but they want the place they leave to stay the same, caught in the time capsule of their memory.

I guess it’s a kind of security blanket.

And then they get discombobulated when the people or country they left behind move on as well.

Not just emigration, sometimes people go back to a holiday spot and get cross when the people who live there have made changes and ‘spoilt” it for them🤔

That's very true.

It’s that weird thing people have when they leave a place and their life moves on, but they want the place they leave to stay the same, caught in the time capsule of their memory.

I guess it’s a kind of security blanket.

And then they get discombobulated when the people or country they left behind move on as well.

Not just emigration, sometimes people go back to a holiday spot and get cross when the people who live there have made changes and ‘spoilt” it for them🤔

The anger directed at the country of birth is very noticeable in these posts, and it risks overshadowing the actual legal issues being discussed. That’s unfortunate, particularly when there hasn’t been first-hand experience of the country for many decades.

nanna8
In the interests of balance - here's the advice from the government hete regarding visiting Australia:

Safety and security
Terrorism
There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.

Terrorism in Australia
Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Australia.

Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals. You should be vigilant, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.

In December 2025, 15 people were killed in an antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, Sydney.

In April 2024, several people were injured in a terrorist incident at a church in Wakeley, Sydney.

See the Australian government’s national terrorism threat level.

Crime
Protecting your belongings
Take precautions to protect yourself from petty crime, including:

not leaving your bag or luggage unattended
keeping luggage out of sight in cars
keeping valuables and passport in a hotel safe
leaving copies of important documents with family and friends in the UK
carrying a photocopy of your passport for ID
being particularly careful at night in busy tourist areas

Under current UK law, people born in the UK do not automatically acquire British citizenship unless one of the following conditions is met:

At least one parent is a British citizen or settled in the UK (i.e., they have indefinite leave to remain or permanent residency) at the time of the child's birth.

The child was born in the UK to non-British parents, but they become British citizens through a process called naturalization or under specific conditions, such as when the child is later adopted by British citizens.

Oh for goodness sake. If they need British as sports to enter the country just get them.

The world is full of places where you have to get things before you can enter. Yellow fever jabs, visas, ESTAs, be fingerprinted and photographed, get my boots checked, even pay bribes to cross the border.

The list is endless and it’s all part of travelling.

Honestly if there’s going to be all this fuss about a fairly simple thing, travelling is not going to go well.

nanna8

Hope they are bs but I am still frightened for the youngsters and told them to keep their money and phones out of sight.

I'm 72 and once had an attempted mugging, saw him off. Never been burgled, never been pickpocketed. Lived in big cities. Can't see how it is di risky. Crime happens, I'm sure it happens in Australia. As for terrorism we all know that happens in Australia and isn't there something on the BBC about police brutality at some march in Sydney?

Don't pass your anxieties on to your grandchildren, we obviously worry but shouldn't let it spoil their adventures.

nanna8

Hope they are bs but I am still frightened for the youngsters and told them to keep their money and phones out of sight.

Well, I imagine that advice applies to many places.

Rome and Barcelona spring to mind.

Hope they are bs but I am still frightened for the youngsters and told them to keep their money and phones out of sight.

JackyB

Ah! Their mother was "British born". My son's were not born British; I had to register their births at the Embassy. There may be a difference.

❤️

And those travel warnings (on the Australian pages to en at the beginning of this thread) are BS!

This what we are informed before travelling to the uk these days!

Ah! Their mother was "British born". My son's were not born British; I had to register their births at the Embassy. There may be a difference.

I’m puzzled too but that is what the British consul told us. How would they know that their mother was British born ? Apparently they do, which is a worry in itself. As I said before and this time I’ll shout it , they are being FORCED to have passports they don’t want. Would you risk travelling for 24 hours and then being sent back ? I wouldn’t. So they will obey. Me, I just won’t go there anymore , too far anyway, too dangerous these days according to our ‘travel warnings ‘

I'm still puzzled as to why the grandchildren need - or even have the right to - a British passport.

My sons cannot pass their nationality on to their offspring. I had to apply for British nationality for them (my sons) when they were born. On the basis of the info in this thread I have told them that they need to present their British passports on entering the UK. They have all kept their passports up to date, so that is no problem.

My husband only has a German passport. My sons' wives only have German passports. So, as far as I can tell, their wives and children will need an ETA with their German passports if they travel to the UK.

If the grandchildren are "forced" to get British passports through their tenuous connection to the UK, (through me), how far back does this go? I think there was a Frenchwoman somewhere back in my genealogy in the 18th century. should I be applying for a French passport?

Nanna8 did they explain how anyone would know they are British or entitled to British citizenship. I can't see how passport control at a British airport could possibly know unless they were registered as an overseas birth or they'd applied for their passport.

I honestly don't believe Britain has the time, money or interest to keep track of births round the world so that they know who could apply for a passport.

If it is law that people who could get British citizenship have to if they want to travel here then it is very poorly thought out as it just isn't workable.

British citizenship is not automatic for everyone born in Britain. Their parents status applies.

I am in Canada where the same rule applies. I have dual citizenship and enter the UK with my British passport and return on my Canadian one.
It is a bit of a palaver and indeed costly to keep renewing 2 passports.
I am disappointed to read some unkind comments about ex-pats from posters, some of whom seem unaware that ---
British citizenship applies to all people born in the UK.
Canada and Australia have reciprocal agreements with the UK regarding income tax.
The UK State Pension is frozen on leaving the country and Ex-Pats residing in Canada and Australia do not receive any future increases.
Canadian/Australian citizens with UK dual nationality can only receive free emergency NHS treatment if they are normally residing abroad. They cannot receive free in-patient care.
Around 2 million overseas voters ie British Citizens are now legally entitled to vote but only 137,000 applied for a vote in the last general election. Whether or not they actually voted is another matter of course. Did they apply on time, receive their postal voting paper on time and manage to return their votes early enough?
Thank-you for reading.

Summerlove

nanna8

My grandchildren were born in Australia and have never been to the UK. They are being forced to get uk passports against their will. My daughter rang the British consulate again to check because neither of us could believe it. It’s true. So they have to fork out hundreds of dollars for nothing.

The only way that makes sense is if your daughter applied for British Citizenship for them.

In that case, then it’s the proper thing and if they are angry it should be with their mother.

As has been stated this was announced in 2024. This is not new news, nor is it a punishment.

They have never applied for British passports and neither has their mother. They don’t want one but are forced to get one. Otherwise they will be refused entry as they only have Australian passports. ,ok, I am getting a bit bored with saying this now. It is unfair and unjust. They are not British, that’s the point.

I missed that Graphite, thank you.

Either way this has been on the cards publicly for over a year so shouldn’t be a shock. No one is being punished.

Graphite

OP said on Saturday that her daughter was born in Britain and her granddaughters’ father in Australia. That’s what gives her GDs dual Australian/British citizenship, the first by birth and the second by descent. It is why, from 26 February 2026, they will need British passports to be allowed to travel from Australia to the UK and be allowed automatic right of entry.

The phased introduction was rolled out to the rest of the world (ex Europe) in Novermber 2024 with a soft transition period allowing dual citizens to continue to use their foreign passports as authorisation to travel (without an ETA). That is what is now coming to an end.

So it isn't like Irish where you are entitled but have to apply? Thinking about it my husband's commonwealth country is the same. So my kids are British by birth and entitled to two other nationalities if they apply.

OP said on Saturday that her daughter was born in Britain and her granddaughters’ father in Australia. That’s what gives her GDs dual Australian/British citizenship, the first by birth and the second by descent. It is why, from 26 February 2026, they will need British passports to be allowed to travel from Australia to the UK and be allowed automatic right of entry.

The phased introduction was rolled out to the rest of the world (ex Europe) in Novermber 2024 with a soft transition period allowing dual citizens to continue to use their foreign passports as authorisation to travel (without an ETA). That is what is now coming to an end.

Or am I mistaken that your daughter was born in the UK?

Nor is it Starmer's 'fault'.

nanna8

My grandchildren were born in Australia and have never been to the UK. They are being forced to get uk passports against their will. My daughter rang the British consulate again to check because neither of us could believe it. It’s true. So they have to fork out hundreds of dollars for nothing.

The only way that makes sense is if your daughter applied for British Citizenship for them.

In that case, then it’s the proper thing and if they are angry it should be with their mother.

As has been stated this was announced in 2024. This is not new news, nor is it a punishment.