Entering the UK- or going to happen now

SueDonim

This subject has now hit the Guardian in the UK.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/13/dual-nationals-denied-entry-to-uk-british-passport-border-control?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

The people quoted in the article sounded as whingey as some on this thread and as unwilling to take responsibility for not being aware. I was tempted by the of the article to think that a solution would be for the UK not to allow dual citizenship and let people decide which they wanted. That’d give them something to really whinge about

This subject has now hit the Guardian in the UK.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/13/dual-nationals-denied-entry-to-uk-british-passport-border-control?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

MartavTaurus

I'm guessing it's quite costly to courier important documents from Australia? I know a few years ago we were charged €70 to send an urgent contract back to the UK.

Probably but there you go.

I'm guessing it's quite costly to courier important documents from Australia? I know a few years ago we were charged €70 to send an urgent contract back to the UK.

You have to give as well as take as a citizen and living abroad for decades but having the right to influence the make up of the government that I have to live under isn’t a right that can be justified.

That's rich!
You don't know how much I gave to the UK before living abroad? Or how I took my responsibilities seriously, like giving a free education to many UK children over a decade for example. There was little take on my part, my own children being educated privately and none of us costing the NHS for medical treatment because we had private medical isurance.

I won't bore readers here with our business in France which served British business men as well British University students visiting the foreign country.

So why would I not perceive my vote back in the UK as being equal to anyone living there? Just because I was out of the country didn't mean that I was out of touch or giving nothing, quite the opposite, and probably a lot more than some residents back home.

When I renewed my passport I had a few days between sending old one in and receiving new one. This is how it works.

NotSpaghetti

My son had to go to the embassy in London to have his USA passport sorted out.
He didn't have to post his birth certificate to America.

Is there a way of doing something similar with our embassy regarding verification of the original birth certificate if you don't think it's safe to post it?

Applications can be made online, certificates et have to be sent to the UK.

DH has just renewed his passport online but had to send in the old passport before the new one can be issued this cost about £9.50 to post tracked UK address to UK address.
In the meantime he has no passport if he needed to travel urgently, although his old one had not run out.

My son had to go to the embassy in London to have his USA passport sorted out.
He didn't have to post his birth certificate to America.

Is there a way of doing something similar with our embassy regarding verification of the original birth certificate if you don't think it's safe to post it?

Tuliptree

MartavTaurus

Why shouldn't those residing abroad deserve to have the vote back home? The democratic rights conferred by citizenship should not depend on location. As Mamie explained, links back to the UK go way beyond just physical space.
For example, when I lived abroad for many years I was always relieved that the UK state remained the ultimate source of protection for UK citizens wherever I was, so voting in the UK on issues like defence was important. Likewise social issues should I one day decide to return to the UK.

There are lots of rights conferred by citizenship but also responsibilities. You have to give as well as take as a citizen and living abroad for decades but having the right to influence the make up of the government that I have to live under isn’t a right that can be justified.

I think the short answer to that is Brexit. People who spent the next day Googling "What is the EU", disrupted our lives and made things much harder for us in many ways, which still persist.
As predicted it also caused huge and ongoing harm to UK businesses, the economy and the lives of many people in Britain.

MartavTaurus

Why shouldn't those residing abroad deserve to have the vote back home? The democratic rights conferred by citizenship should not depend on location. As Mamie explained, links back to the UK go way beyond just physical space.
For example, when I lived abroad for many years I was always relieved that the UK state remained the ultimate source of protection for UK citizens wherever I was, so voting in the UK on issues like defence was important. Likewise social issues should I one day decide to return to the UK.

There are lots of rights conferred by citizenship but also responsibilities. You have to give as well as take as a citizen and living abroad for decades but having the right to influence the make up of the government that I have to live under isn’t a right that can be justified.

Why shouldn't those residing abroad deserve to have the vote back home? The democratic rights conferred by citizenship should not depend on location. As Mamie explained, links back to the UK go way beyond just physical space.
For example, when I lived abroad for many years I was always relieved that the UK state remained the ultimate source of protection for UK citizens wherever I was, so voting in the UK on issues like defence was important. Likewise social issues should I one day decide to return to the UK.

Chocolatelovinggran

Mamie, surely taxes are only a part of the equation when considering voting in a country in which you are not resident?
I commented up thread about my daughter's decision to refrain from voting here, and vote only in her adopted country.
Someone who does not live here might, conceivably, choose a party that planned to privatise the NHS, for example, or close special schools, or remove rights to legal abortions.
None of these would impact the person living in Australia, France, or Sweden, but would have, potentially, a significant impact on the lives of those living in Britain.

Well they might do, but after years supporting children with severe disabilities and life-limiting illnesses, in mainstream and special schools, to enable them to communicate through information technology, I find that pretty insulting.
Actually I vote for the things to make life as good as I can for the future generations, my grandchildren and other people's children and grandchildren.
I see far more selfish reasons for voting on here.

Allira

I think it is a good idea to discuss the changes and any possible problems because not everyone, here or overseas, might be aware or might not have time to organise the proper documentation before they travel.

I agree and had nanna not rubbished the UK , criticised KS unfairly and just been so generally OTT getting peoples backs up, this could gave been an interesting and useful thread.

I think it is a good idea to discuss the changes and any possible problems because not everyone, here or overseas, might be aware or might not have time to organise the proper documentation before they travel.

Tuliptree

Allira

I think the problem is the automatic British citizenship which might be welcomed by some but not by others.

Well tough really -I can imagine an outcry if any government had tried to take it away. Or are you going to tell me there’s a mass movement in Australia to do that? The problem with the position you and nanna seem to be taking is that you keep coming up with different thingx to grouch about eg postal service. When that’s challenged you circle back to another issue eg automatic citizenship. Neither of you see any positives and it’s really really tedious.

Just pointing out the anomalies and pitfalls, which several of us or our our families may encounter.
Perhaps your Australian family have never found any problems in the system when they travel.

If you find it so tedious perhaps best to avoid our posts.

Thank you.

Tuliptree

Allira

I think the problem is the automatic British citizenship which might be welcomed by some but not by others.

Well tough really -I can imagine an outcry if any government had tried to take it away. Or are you going to tell me there’s a mass movement in Australia to do that? The problem with the position you and nanna seem to be taking is that you keep coming up with different thingx to grouch about eg postal service. When that’s challenged you circle back to another issue eg automatic citizenship. Neither of you see any positives and it’s really really tedious.

It never used to be automatic.
It was introduced in 2006.

Mamie, surely taxes are only a part of the equation when considering voting in a country in which you are not resident?
I commented up thread about my daughter's decision to refrain from voting here, and vote only in her adopted country.
Someone who does not live here might, conceivably, choose a party that planned to privatise the NHS, for example, or close special schools, or remove rights to legal abortions.
None of these would impact the person living in Australia, France, or Sweden, but would have, potentially, a significant impact on the lives of those living in Britain.

Allira

I think the problem is the automatic British citizenship which might be welcomed by some but not by others.

Well tough really -I can imagine an outcry if any government had tried to take it away. Or are you going to tell me there’s a mass movement in Australia to do that? The problem with the position you and nanna seem to be taking is that you keep coming up with different thingx to grouch about eg postal service. When that’s challenged you circle back to another issue eg automatic citizenship. Neither of you see any positives and it’s really really tedious.

I think the problem is the automatic British citizenship which might be welcomed by some but not by others.

Tuliptree

Allira

Don’t you have registered post in Australia?

Postal services between the UK and Australia can be very dodgy at the best of times however much you pay.

There must be registered/ recorded courier services. Is the press full of stories of lost passport applications between Australia and UK? And yes I have quite a lot of friends there who have dual citizenship and have needed passports etc . Furthermore, if it’s true that it’s a poor system, all the more reason to plan well in advance

I needed to send back an important but small item which a member of my family had left behind a couple of years ago. As far as I remember it cost me £45 global express tracked.

You may see it negatively "Tuliptree" but it is what it is and we need it.

I would see it as - a highly structured, efficient, and reliable system characterised by clear hierarchy, accountability, and standardised processes. It ensures fairness through consistent, rule-based decision-making, eliminating bias while promoting expertise through specialised roles. It is essential for managing large, complex organisations with stability.

And the issuing of passports needs a large, complex organisation with stability to carry out the checks and balances!

Nanna8 authorities in the UK need to know if the young people are definitely entitled to automatic British citizenship. It's not personal but it is bureaucratic - for you and for everyone else but then, you are dealing with a legal action.

There are so many illegal immigrants in this country and people who have overstayed their visas that the Government had to do something and extra "bureauceacy" is probably the price we all have to pay for that, both in money and annoyance, not least at the speed of it all. Or lack of speed at certain times of the years and the uncertainty of the mail service.

Allira

^Don’t you have registered post in Australia?^

Postal services between the UK and Australia can be very dodgy at the best of times however much you pay.

There must be registered/ recorded courier services. Is the press full of stories of lost passport applications between Australia and UK? And yes I have quite a lot of friends there who have dual citizenship and have needed passports etc . Furthermore, if it’s true that it’s a poor system, all the more reason to plan well in advance

Don’t you have registered post in Australia?

Postal services between the UK and Australia can be very dodgy at the best of times however much you pay.

Tuliptree

nanna8

They are making it very, very hard for the girls to get their British passports . They want original copies of their birth certs. The girls are not comfortable with sending the original ones to them. A matter of trust , they could steal them or copy them. My daughter is going to ring the consul again. When they deign to answer the phone and don’t hang up on them as they have been doing the last few days. They want them to get their passports but they are making it very hard for them. No, I am not angry, just resigned DissyAnneReturns

😂😂😂😂 Original birth certificates to get a passport?? Whatever next. How very dare they? You are winding us up. Don’t you have registered post in Australia?

Yes, and they managed to make a wreck of the marriage certificate of one of my family members when she had to send it away to renew her British passport.