The fury around the UK’s change in entry requirements for dual citizens has reached the House of Commons in London, with a UK politician calling for a “grace period” for affected travellers.
From 25 February, foreign passport holders will need to secure an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK for short stays of up to six months. While the ETA is cheap and relatively easy to obtain for most foreign travellers – costing £16 (AU$30) and permitting multiple journeys – dual citizens face far greater hurdles.
Those without a current UK passport must either obtain one or travel on a foreign passport containing a certificate of entitlement confirming right of abode. Both options involve significant time and cost, with many travellers only becoming aware of the requirement earlier this year.
As reported by Travel Weekly, the impact on Australian residents has been significant, with some missing long-planned trips worth tens of thousands of dollars. Australia is disproportionately affected, with more than one million British-born residents and around one-third of the population claiming English ancestry.
The issue has now reached the UK Parliament, where Will Forster MP has called for a “grace period” for British nationals living or working abroad. He said the “lack of planning and haphazard communication” had “left dual nationals completely in the lurch”.
EXPLAINER: Going to the UK? With days to go, what Aussies need to know about new ETA
“Many who don’t currently hold a British passport find themselves stranded abroad, having to stump up potentially huge sums of money and face long waits just to get back home,” Forster said.
“Whilst they sort out the chaos, the government should allow a grace period, as many dual nationals are in heart-breaking circumstances, unable to visit ill family members or attend weddings and funerals. They must also urgently provide a low-cost, affordable alternative to the current system.”
The concerns were echoed by Belle Goldie, founder and lead travel advisor at The Cruise & Travel Store, who told Travel Weekly the situation was a “big issue” for the industry.
EXCLUSIVE: Belle Goldie – ‘It’s a big issue’ as UK passport changes spark scams and distress
She described the impact on elderly travellers as particularly distressing, including an 85-year-old client planning what may be her final visit to the UK to see family.
“This was meant to be her last holiday. Now everything is up in the air.”
Goldie said other clients were in tears after learning that processing times for a British passport could take between 12 and 17 weeks.
“They’re devastated that their own government has now put systems in place that make it almost unachievable for them to even go back to their own country,” she said.
