Entering the UK- or going to happen now

‘Bureaucratic’ always seems to have negative connotations . The process for getting a first passport is rigorous and thorough which we would all accept and except surely it would be . The passport office improved beyond all recognition several years ago. Renewing a passport now only takes a few days including returning the old one. I appreciate that being in Australia and it being a first passport will take longer but that’s all part of planning isn’t for the wonderful opportunities this trip will give the dgc.

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.

To establish this chain, they will need to know:
*Where the girls were born
*Where the British parent was born
*Whether the British parent was born in the UK or gained citizenship another way

If I have interpreted your posts correctly it looks to me as if there is more paperwork because this is because it’s a first British passport application from overseas.

You are quick to slur those working on behalf of the government but if you calmly think about it, the problems are far more like to come from those applying than those whose job it is to ensure everything is above board. That is why the standard of evidence is high.

I think you would find it easier if you stopped over-thinking and just got the job done. If you have left it very late I am sure there are professionals who could help.

Tuliptree

Thanks for information re income tax Mamie . I think the problem for me is that such an important principle can’t be argued from a ‘best case ‘ scenario of which you seem to be an example. I’ve been reading up about what other countries do - from what I understand the French seem to have an interesting solution for their citizens living abroad - they have a vote but for specially designated MPs for overseas residents for the area in which they are living abroad. I’ve also been thinking that if we had PR it might feel fairer as but I still feel it’s fundamentally wrong and especially when it’s life long

Yes there are eleven constituencies for French abroad, represented by deputés in the National Assembly.
I have discussed it with my students and they are horrified at the thought that French people living abroad would not have a vote.
Similarly, they think school uniform is an infringement of human rights and the British are mad not to have identity cards. 😂

Nanna8 do they mean official copies as you would get them from the General Registrars Office in England? I don't know what the equivalent would be in Australia. For UK birth certificates it is about £38 pounds, again I don't know about Australia.

Thanks for information re income tax Mamie . I think the problem for me is that such an important principle can’t be argued from a ‘best case ‘ scenario of which you seem to be an example. I’ve been reading up about what other countries do - from what I understand the French seem to have an interesting solution for their citizens living abroad - they have a vote but for specially designated MPs for overseas residents for the area in which they are living abroad. I’ve also been thinking that if we had PR it might feel fairer as but I still feel it’s fundamentally wrong and especially when it’s life long

au.interparcel.com/blog/shipping-advice/australia-post-letters

Here you nanna , thought I’d be helpful.

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?

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

Tuliptree

That’s laudable Mamie but doesn’t really address the core issue does it? One thing I have wondered is that under the double taxation rules on your UK income are you better or worse off by paying Uk income tax rather than French income tax? Just out of interest.

Slightly worse off because the French rate would not be as high as the UK.
As I asked upthread, with frequent lengthy visits, in constant touch with immediate family and friends all over the UK, teaching online, what is it I can't know? Nobody has answered that for me that yet?

That’s laudable Mamie but doesn’t really address the core issue does it? One thing I have wondered is that under the double taxation rules on your UK income are you better or worse off by paying Uk income tax rather than French income tax? Just out of interest.

Tuliptree

Mamie

I live in France and vote in the UK.
No taxation without representation.

Maybe that should be the test? But income tax is only a proportion of the tax we pay - those of us living here pay a whole swathe of other taxes. Also we contribute to our communities - by working, volunteering. But anyway the current system means that someone who doesn’t contribute anything to British society, materially or in other ways, and has lived abroad for decades has a vote equal to mine. I think that’s an indefensible position - I could just about stomach the old rule of 15 years.

I volunteer as a teacher of English language and have spent a lot of time developing understanding of British culture.
I also teach French to groups of older folk online in the UK.
Is that worth nothing?

Mamie

I live in France and vote in the UK.
No taxation without representation.

Maybe that should be the test? But income tax is only a proportion of the tax we pay - those of us living here pay a whole swathe of other taxes. Also we contribute to our communities - by working, volunteering. But anyway the current system means that someone who doesn’t contribute anything to British society, materially or in other ways, and has lived abroad for decades has a vote equal to mine. I think that’s an indefensible position - I could just about stomach the old rule of 15 years.

I live in France and vote in the UK.
No taxation without representation.

Or they can get a UK passport. They don’t btw have to apply for British citizenship - they have it automatically. It’s the passport they’d apply for . Much cheaper than renouncing.

Rosie51

DaisyAnneReturns

flappergirl

I don't understand. Does the UK passport requirement only apply to certain countries (Aus, NZ or Canada for example) or every country in the world. And how do "they" know if you or your parents were originally born in the UK? Sorry if I'm being thick but I really don't understand. Can someone give me an idiot's guide?

Not quite. It doesn’t apply to “anyone with dual nationality.” It applies to people who are citizens of that specific country. Many countries (including the UK) require their own citizens, even if they also hold another nationality, to use that country’s passport when entering or leaving. So it’s about being a citizen of that country, not about dual nationality in general.

Nanna was born in Uk, her daughter was born in the Uk and emigrated to Australia as a year old baby. Nanna's granddaughters were born in Australia to Australian fathers and hold Australian passports. They have zero interest in applying for the British citizenship they are entitled to, but are told they cannot enter the UK without a British passport. Their valid Australian passport and a visitor's ETA is not acceptable. Make it make sense!

Yes!!

They are British whether they want to be or not and have to pay how much? A$1,000? To renounce their British citizenship!
A lot of money for young people who want to travel.

OldFrill

Allira

DaisyAnneReturns

Just thinking but Nanny8 would have lost voting eligibility roughly 15 years after leaving (around early 1990s if they left mid-1970s). To vote under the change they have to re-register and then renew their registration periodically (currently every 3 years).

I can't see that going down well with the OP.

Yes, I think they were the rules but now they have changed. I don't understand the reasoning behind it at all.

I can't see that going down well with the OP.

Why? nanna8 has not said that she wishes to vote as far as I know.
It was another poster who said she would - that poster must have remarkable insight into other people's s minds.

Maybe read the thread

Add comment | Report | Private message | Quote
nanna8 Sat 07-Feb-26 11:59:06
I think I will vote next time - move over horrible Keir. Never have since we left but I do still care when the place looks as though it is in trouble

It was a joke!!

DaisyAnneReturns

Just thinking but Nanny8 would have lost voting eligibility roughly 15 years after leaving (around early 1990s if they left mid-1970s). To vote under the change they have to re-register and then renew their registration periodically (currently every 3 years).

I can't see that going down well with the OP.

The 15 year limit was abolished in 2024

All abroad! More Brits overseas can now register to vote | Electoral Commission share.google/096WT36YHahbcySRJ

Allira

DaisyAnneReturns

Just thinking but Nanny8 would have lost voting eligibility roughly 15 years after leaving (around early 1990s if they left mid-1970s). To vote under the change they have to re-register and then renew their registration periodically (currently every 3 years).

I can't see that going down well with the OP.

Yes, I think they were the rules but now they have changed. I don't understand the reasoning behind it at all.

I can't see that going down well with the OP.

Why? nanna8 has not said that she wishes to vote as far as I know.
It was another poster who said she would - that poster must have remarkable insight into other people's s minds.

Maybe read the thread

Add comment | Report | Private message | Quote
nanna8 Sat 07-Feb-26 11:59:06
I think I will vote next time - move over horrible Keir. Never have since we left but I do still care when the place looks as though it is in trouble

DaisyAnneReturns

flappergirl

I don't understand. Does the UK passport requirement only apply to certain countries (Aus, NZ or Canada for example) or every country in the world. And how do "they" know if you or your parents were originally born in the UK? Sorry if I'm being thick but I really don't understand. Can someone give me an idiot's guide?

Not quite. It doesn’t apply to “anyone with dual nationality.” It applies to people who are citizens of that specific country. Many countries (including the UK) require their own citizens, even if they also hold another nationality, to use that country’s passport when entering or leaving. So it’s about being a citizen of that country, not about dual nationality in general.

Nanna was born in Uk, her daughter was born in the Uk and emigrated to Australia as a year old baby. Nanna's granddaughters were born in Australia to Australian fathers and hold Australian passports. They have zero interest in applying for the British citizenship they are entitled to, but are told they cannot enter the UK without a British passport. Their valid Australian passport and a visitor's ETA is not acceptable. Make it make sense!

flappergirl

I don't understand. Does the UK passport requirement only apply to certain countries (Aus, NZ or Canada for example) or every country in the world. And how do "they" know if you or your parents were originally born in the UK? Sorry if I'm being thick but I really don't understand. Can someone give me an idiot's guide?

Not quite. It doesn’t apply to “anyone with dual nationality.” It applies to people who are citizens of that specific country. Many countries (including the UK) require their own citizens, even if they also hold another nationality, to use that country’s passport when entering or leaving. So it’s about being a citizen of that country, not about dual nationality in general.

flappergirl

I don't understand. Does the UK passport requirement only apply to certain countries (Aus, NZ or Canada for example) or every country in the world. And how do "they" know if you or your parents were originally born in the UK? Sorry if I'm being thick but I really don't understand. Can someone give me an idiot's guide?

It applies to anyone with dual nationality.

Believe me, they know everything!

DaisyAnneReturns

Just thinking but Nanny8 would have lost voting eligibility roughly 15 years after leaving (around early 1990s if they left mid-1970s). To vote under the change they have to re-register and then renew their registration periodically (currently every 3 years).

I can't see that going down well with the OP.

Yes, I think they were the rules but now they have changed. I don't understand the reasoning behind it at all.

I can't see that going down well with the OP.

Why? nanna8 has not said that she wishes to vote as far as I know.
It was another poster who said she would - that poster must have remarkable insight into other people's s minds.

Just thinking but Nanny8 would have lost voting eligibility roughly 15 years after leaving (around early 1990s if they left mid-1970s). To vote under the change they have to re-register and then renew their registration periodically (currently every 3 years).

I can't see that going down well with the OP.

As a Canadian with a Jersey born mother (now deceased), I would just apply for an entry visa if I ever decide to visit UK.

Reading all the data regarding rights to a UK passport is a bit complicated, since it depends on whether my mum ever became a Canadian citizen (I honestly don't know). I suppose I could apply for both UK and French passports through my parents. but I don't really see any benefit to doing so. I don't plan on staying in either country for any length of time other than short tourist visit.

flappergirl

I don't understand. Does the UK passport requirement only apply to certain countries (Aus, NZ or Canada for example) or every country in the world. And how do "they" know if you or your parents were originally born in the UK? Sorry if I'm being thick but I really don't understand. Can someone give me an idiot's guide?

I think I’m going to advise you to read the full thread. There are some brilliant factual explanations but I for one have lost the will to live😂😂