Entering the UK- or going to happen now

This is something I don't understand. My family emigrated to Australia in the 60s, so my brothers were British citizens originally. Yet they are regarded as foreigners and have to visit on a visa.

Nanna8, there’s a great deal of angst across the ditch as well.
Primarily the short lead-in time between announcement and implementation.

Also the requirement for someone, not a family member with a current UK passport who has known you for 2 years, to sign your application form. This 2nd ask is causing difficulty as many do not know others outside family with current UK passports.

I guess the dust will settle, as these things do, but it sounds like a tremendous revenue gathering exercise as I understand NZPost is charging in the vicinity of $200.00 just for courier fees!

How much warning was given about the change? Is that the issue? I feel very sorry for anyone caught up in it if it’s been sprung on them with little notice, but we’re only catching up with what’s always happened in other countries. My American friend and her children (born here) have always had to keep both passports up to date to travel back there on visits. And it looks as though dual UK/Australian nationals living in the UK face the same issue if they travel to Australia. With the added problem of an Australian passport costing a whopping £314 when applied for from here.

www.smartraveller.gov.au/before-you-go/who-you-are/dual-nationals

nanna8

Allsorts

Nanna, you are an Australian and not a British Citizen. Why would you not apply for a ETA to visit. They are just a few pounds. As a British Citizen I would have to do the same to visit your country.

I’m not eligible for that. You have to get a passport. I seriously think some people on here have literacy issues. No, my grandchildren were not born in the UK but they still have to pay for and use a British passports if they want to visit. Stupid rule. Look, I have said how it is, I am not telling lies and I object to the people who are saying I am just making things up. End of.

I sympathise nanna8. Sorry you have not been treated very well on here.

Oops, sorry, I gave the wrong link on my post above. I’ll try again!

uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/DualNationals.html

Well, it works both ways. My 3 Australian/British grandchildren were unable to go to Australia for a funeral because their Australian passports had expired. They were not allowed to use their British passports!

denbylover

Nanna8, there’s a great deal of angst across the ditch as well.
Primarily the short lead-in time between announcement and implementation.

Also the requirement for someone, not a family member with a current UK passport who has known you for 2 years, to sign your application form. This 2nd ask is causing difficulty as many do not know others outside family with current UK passports.

I guess the dust will settle, as these things do, but it sounds like a tremendous revenue gathering exercise as I understand NZPost is charging in the vicinity of $200.00 just for courier fees!

Hope they get lots of complaints. It is not a good look, is it ? Going to mainland European countries seems a lot easier, at least it was for us . I think it is a money grabbing exercise, too. Especially sad if you have to go to a loved one’s funeral, you have enough problems without this added stress. This friend is very,very upset about it.

It definitely appears that British citizens are being disciminated against because Britain allows people to have dual citizenship, and it seems difficult to renounce British citizenship.
Many countries do not allow dual citizenship, eg India. If you become a citizen of another country, you lose your Indian citzenship. If UK had that rule, it would be easier for people like Nanna, but I suspect there are others who like to be dual citizens.

I think the aim is to tighten up on illegal immigration and to show the public they are Doing Something 🤔, but, like many government initiatives, successive governments seem to target the wrong people.

There is a need to bring us in line with other countries with ETAs but why people with dual British/Other nationalities are not allowed to use their non-British passport plus an ETA is puzzling, especially if they are not regular travellers or there is a family emergency.

Farmor15

It definitely appears that British citizens are being disciminated against because Britain allows people to have dual citizenship, and it seems difficult to renounce British citizenship.
Many countries do not allow dual citizenship, eg India. If you become a citizen of another country, you lose your Indian citzenship. If UK had that rule, it would be easier for people like Nanna, but I suspect there are others who like to be dual citizens.

Why would you renounce British citizenship if you take out eg Australian citizenship.

You may want or need to return here for many reasons.

nanna8

The worst thing is for my grandchildren. They are being forced to get British passports which they have never had and do not want. Ridiculous.

Are your GC dual citizens or entitled to British citizenship? I was an adult when I got my Irish passport, prior to that the Irish government didn't know I existed. I then had to produce evidence of my entitlement.

RosiesMawagain

Allira

British citizens who apply for Australian citizenship are being penalised because they have to keep their British passport up-to-date at around £100 each time or for proof of British citizenship at around £500+.

🤔

But a passport is valid for 10 years- is £10 an “extortionate” amount?

It's around £140 which, if you are not going to use it regularly, is a large sum, particularly if you are paying for a family. Now, if there is an emergency, what do they do?

It takes weeks to get or renew a passport.

This does not appear to have been thought through properly. What is the reasoning behind it?

nanna8 wrote I seriously think some people on here have literacy issues.

Yesterday, I spent a lot of time trying to explain what the ETA system is and why it does not apply to those with dual citizenship.

I was going to take some more time this morning to explain the very real, important and financial benefits of having a British passport (especially in the case of an emergency) but you really are so very rude, nanna8, that I shan’t bother. I’ve leave you to figure it out and to keep bashing the UK, which is something you clearly enjoy doing.

What I will say is that the second phase of the roll out, which included Australia, was in November 2024. Ample time to get ready for this. In the meantime those with dual citizenship have been allowed a 15 month concession to continue to travel to the UK on their non-British passport without having to undergo pre-travel checks. And they still won't have to if they get a British passport.

Maggiemaybe

How much warning was given about the change? Is that the issue? I feel very sorry for anyone caught up in it if it’s been sprung on them with little notice, but we’re only catching up with what’s always happened in other countries. My American friend and her children (born here) have always had to keep both passports up to date to travel back there on visits. And it looks as though dual UK/Australian nationals living in the UK face the same issue if they travel to Australia. With the added problem of an Australian passport costing a whopping £314 when applied for from here.

www.smartraveller.gov.au/before-you-go/who-you-are/dual-nationals

It's fraught with problems and pitfalls, one of which is the cost but the other is the length of time it takes to obtain or renew a passport.

All for the sake of a rule which penalises British citizens.

Nanna8 were your children born in Australia? I don't think your GC are automatically regarded as British jn that case. This is what a relative told me, they said their GC would have an automatic right with Irish grandparents but not British.

I think the answer is for you, and your adult children, to relinquish all rights to Britain (and anywhere else with dual citizenship) if you only want one passport. That would do it once and for all nanna and the grandchildren would then be out of the picture.

There are advantages and disadvantages to dual nationality. For example the British govt would not act for me if I got into trouble in Ireland and vice versa.

I can't see how nannas GC would be identified as being entitled to British citizenship if they have never legally sorted that out. I can see it if they were born here but there's nothing on any passport I've ever seen that indicates where your parents were born. I know my children's passports dont indicate my nationality or that I have dual nationality as does my husband but with a different nationality to mine.

NotSpaghetti

I think the answer is for you, and your adult children, to relinquish all rights to Britain (and anywhere else with dual citizenship) if you only want one passport. That would do it once and for all nanna and the grandchildren would then be out of the picture.

I'm not sure why that costs so much either!

If you have no links remaining with the UK then yes.
So many families have strong links with two countries.

Going to mainland European countries seems a lot easier, at least it was for us

- that's because you aren't dual nationality with wherever else you go.
I know it's worldwide.

Would flying to Dublin and then going north so you are in Britain work?

Why would Britain deliberately discriminate against British citizens?
Is this all about solving the contentious 'immigration' issue?

Maremia

Why would Britain deliberately discriminate against British citizens?
Is this all about solving the contentious 'immigration' issue?

Them's my thoughts too - ie to be seen to "do something" - whilst not actually doing a darn thing in actual fact.

One can almost hear someone there saying "It's optics dear boy....optics"...

Cossy

Actually, I’m pretty sure that the rule is IF you have dual nationality AND hold both a British Passport and one for your other nationality, you MUST use your British passport whilst travelling to and from the UK?

Yes. But UK passports expire and have to be renewed (expense).

Nana's position is, she no longer wants her British nationality but it's very expensive to renounce it. If she doesnt renounce it then she must keep an up to date UK passport in case she needs to enters UK. Because she can't enter on her Australian one.

Even if one's been absent for 50 years, there are reasons one might need to enter UK ( family wedding/funeral/last chance to see ancient siblings ). Or even, just transiting en route to holiday in Europe.

The obvious answer is to make it far easier for " long distance, longterm expats" to renounce a redundant nationality they long ago left behind them, in a different hemisphere in a previous century.

theworriedwell

Would flying to Dublin and then going north so you are in Britain work?

Dublin is in the Republic of Ireland, which is not "in Britain" .

Exactly, no dual nationality issue. Ireland is an island, easy to legally cross the border into the UK.