Entering the UK- or going to happen now

What is the reasoning behind all this? It gives dual nationals Right of Abode - but most just want to come on holiday or visit relatives and escape back to Australia!

Exactly!

Several posters have been keen to point out it gives the right to live here, work here etc etc but the vast majority have no interest in doing either so no it isn't a benefit to them, just an unnecessary inconvenience and cost.

Rosie51

I actually posted much earlier in the thread that I agreed with being able to apply for citizenship on the basis of descent, but strongly objected to its unasked for imposition. I was told I was wanting my family to be made an exception.........

No, it's the sensible option.

There are about 250,000 Australians who are apparently 'British by descent'. Passports will be linked electronically from from next Wednesday so carriers can check, whereas they weren't previously.
How long the 'temporary measures' will remain in place is unclear.

What is the reasoning behind all this? It gives dual nationals Right of Abode - but most just want to come on holiday or visit relatives and escape back to Australia!

I actually posted much earlier in the thread that I agreed with being able to apply for citizenship on the basis of descent, but strongly objected to its unasked for imposition. I was told I was wanting my family to be made an exception.........

In line with temporary guidance, carriers (such as airlines and ferry companies) may allow you to travel if you have both:

^an expired UK passport, issued in 1989 or later
a valid passport for one of the nationalities that can get an ETA
The personal details on both passports must match.^

The devil in the detail to this is that it will be up to individual airlines as to whether they accept an expired passport etc. Airlines get fined considerable amounts if they carry people to the UK who have no right of entry.

I think an ‘activation’ of UK citizenship might be a good idea.

When British. by descent was brought in it was to limit the number of children who were automatically entitled to British citizenship. I’ve always thought that they kept this category as nod to British citizens born here but who then emigrated and had children afterwards. I can understand why no Govt would want to take British by descent away politically that is. So I suppose it’s about keeping the legal right but it not being activated . You can have it if you want but you have to apply formally ‘activate’ it. Would that work?

I actually think that this is a very helpful temporary solution as it gives people time to sort out what they want to do

Yes. I keep hearing about more people who had booked visits here from Australia, mainly visiting elderly parents, grandparents and the cost of paying for passports for a family of eg six people is prohibitive on top of paying for Australian passports, travel, accommodation etc. They are Australian citizens and already have perfectly valid passports for that country.

Automatic citizenship of a country which you did not claim or register and requiring the passport for entry to that country is ludicrous. If someone wants to register British citizenship by filial connection that is fine, they can apply for it and the passport.

It does not bring the UK in line with the rest of the world, if that were so my DGC would require three passports.

Sorry not probate, I meant LPAs

I actually think that this is a very helpful temporary solution as it gives people time to sort out what they want to do - getting a passport or renouncing their British citizenship so they don’t need a UK passport. I also think it would be interesting to find out the real costs of renouncing citizenship as it sounds really expensive. A few years ago there was a campaign about the costs of getting probate and it was determined that the OPG should not be making a profit, just covering the costs. The campaign was successful and people who’d applied earlier got a partial refund - I was one of them.

UPDATE:

A link to this was posted on my Facebook page this morning:
The UK Government has done a U turn which may or may not be temporary.

^Travelling on or after 25 February 2026^
You may not be able to board your transport to the UK without a valid document.

Apply for a passport or a certificate of entitlement now. It will avoid complications when travelling to the UK.

In line with temporary guidance, carriers (such as airlines and ferry companies) may allow you to travel if you have both:

an expired UK passport, issued in 1989 or later
a valid passport for one of the nationalities that can get an ETA
The personal details on both passports must match.
(Fine if you didn't get married or change your name in any other way.)

www.gov.uk/guidance/electronic-travel-authorisation-eta-guide-for-dual-citizens?fbclid=IwY2xjawQHty9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEey1OjbhuFrjJJjD_usILitb7PI23GYPs5Q0WTMKG9uOIL-GohsZi8W-dPgBs_aem_ZMP1594yNgiGOP4bA8h6Uw#how-to-prove-your-permission-to-travel-to-the-uk-as-a-dual-citizen

David49

If you are a frequent flier you have already learned that all countries are different, all airports are different, the automatic gates may or may not be operating.

2 weeks ago I travelled home through Heathrow no queue at immigration bags, on the carousel in 5 mins, other times it's taken an hour. You just have go with the flow

Oh good.

Hope that's par for the course at the moment.

Rosie51

Summysoom

I’m a Canadian with dual citizenship. About 10 years ago, arriving in Ottawa to visit my dad, I was told by a very rude border guard that I had better apply for a Canadian passport soon. Turns out, as a native Canadian I could no longer enter Canada on my British passport and I wasn’t allow to use an ETA.
It cost me a fortune as I had to pay for a new copy of my birth certificate as well as the passport application which cost twice as much as a domestic application. I was very cross but as I needed to visit my dad regularly it was necessary.
I hardly ever go to Canada now but have to apply for a renewal soon just in case I do need to travel there. It does seem unfair but what the UK is doing is not unique.

Maybe it's not unique, that doesn't make it right. Do your children if you have any, (please don't feel obliged to answer if you'd prefer not to), also have Canadian citizenship and therefore a necessity for a Canadian passport imposed upon them, whether or not they want or request it?

My sons were born in the UK but thinking that I was doing them a favour, organised Canadian citizenship for them when they were about 2 years old. I thought that it would give them options for working abroad if they wanted. My younger son did work for a summer in Edmonton so it did come in handy as he didn’t have to apply for a visa.
Although they have both had Canadian passports, I believe they have let them expire. As they were not born there, I have suggested that they renounce their Canadian citizenship as they are well established in the UK with wives, children and good jobs. I do wonder if I could do that too although I’m not sure if I want to.
I have just started the process of renewing my Canadian passport and I am quietly simmering with rage at having to do this again.

If you are a frequent flier you have already learned that all countries are different, all airports are different, the automatic gates may or may not be operating.

2 weeks ago I travelled home through Heathrow no queue at immigration bags, on the carousel in 5 mins, other times it's taken an hour. You just have go with the flow

David49

I'm sure there are many couples and families with different nationality passports, they may or may not have biometric passports, so just stay together and go through the manual passport checks.
It's all hassle but that's part of modern travel if it takes longer you will probably still have to wait for baggage to come through.

If, buts, maybes.

Lots of comments from those who do not have this problem and are not frequent fliers, I imagine.

I'm sure there are many couples and families with different nationality passports, they may or may not have biometric passports, so just stay together and go through the manual passport checks.
It's all hassle but that's part of modern travel if it takes longer you will probably still have to wait for baggage to come through.

I agree Allira any valid passport and an ETA.
When a family all have valid foreign passports they could all pass through the same immigration channel. With some having to use a UK passport but the ‘foreign’ parent not being eligible for one, that parent is isolated and must go through a separate immigration channel. How welcoming, how very family friendly!

Maremia

Well, this Thread is still thriving. Maybe more than 'information' was being sought?

I posted three relevant link in an earlier post.

If anyone wants them reposted I will.
They show how confusion could arise.

And yes, I still think anyone with a valid passport coming here on a short visit should be allowed to use that passport and an ETA.

Maremia

Well, this Thread is still thriving. Maybe more than 'information' was being sought?

What information was that Maremia. I'm happy to look for any that is reasonably requested.

Maremia

Well, this Thread is still thriving. Maybe more than 'information' was being sought?

Indeed.😂😂

Well, this Thread is still thriving. Maybe more than 'information' was being sought?

Reply to Allira Sun 15-Feb-26 15:09:26

People may have a "problem" but isn't it the parent's job, hopefully involving older children as a life lesson, to sort it out?

Grandparents complaining on GN won't change anything or ease the situation. If anyone just wanted information it was offered early on in this thread.

NotSpaghetti

It's not really "compulsory" - it's just automatic.
I suppose if the parents didn't want it for their children they could relinquish the right before the child was born.

Just as being born in America made you American in the past, irrespective of your parents.

Just as being born in America made you American in the past, irrespective of your parents.
That's not the same. These children were not born in the UK.

I don't get the attitude that there is no problem with this for some people.

But I do try to state my case without slinging insults at others.

NotSpaghetti Sun 15-Feb-26 09:27:54 Like you, I just do not get this attitude. But, it seems, it will always be the case on GN.

Rosie51

DAR Why should my Canadian grandchildren who were born to one Canadian born parent and one naturalised Canadian parent be required to pay excessive sums to the UK to relinquish a citizenship they have not requested but has been imposed upon them by a country they've never lived in?

Citizenship laws operate automatically. Countries don’t ask whether a child “wants” the nationality if the statutory conditions are met. This is common globally:

Canada automatically grants citizenship by descent (with limits).
The United States grants citizenship automatically under certain conditions.
The UK does the same.

I would be suprised if their parents weren't aware of this.

The UK does charge a fee to renounce British citizenship (currently set by the Home Office). That fee applies even if:

The person never lived in the UK
Never held a UK passport
Never exercised the rights

The legal reasoning is that they are citizens under UK law, and renunciation is an administrative act. Whether the fee is excessive is a matter of opinion rather than fact - different people, different opinions.

Compulsory or automatic surely mean the exact same thing in this situation?

Just as being born in America made you American in the past, irrespective of your parents.
eh? How is that in any way the same, these children have the nationality of where they are born, they aren't being born in UK. Their parent was born in UK.

I don't understand what you mean by I suppose if the parents didn't want it for their children they could relinquish the right before the child was born. do you mean relinquish their child's right to citizenship? Or the parent should pay and relinquish their citizenship to protect their child from this compulsory citizenship?

It's not really "compulsory" - it's just automatic.
I suppose if the parents didn't want it for their children they could relinquish the right before the child was born.

Just as being born in America made you American in the past, irrespective of your parents.