There are requires the British authorities to delay powerful new border rules set to take impact in days.
From Wednesday, dual residents of the UK and Ireland must comply with new passport rules when getting into the UK.
Travellers with dual citizenship might want to current a British or Irish passport, or a certificates of entitlement at border management checkpoints and airways will implement the brand new rules previous to departure.
Dual residents should use their British passport to enter the UK. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)
The Australian authorities’s Smartraveller recommendation is that these necessities will likely be strictly enforced, and Australians with dual citizenship could not be capable to board flights to the UK until they carry the correct journey paperwork.
The rules additionally apply from non-Australian departure factors, together with by worldwide rail, coach or ferry, with carriers required to examine that passengers maintain legitimate UK entry permission before boarding below the brand new UK Home Office “no permission, no travel” system.
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The rules have been formally introduced by the UK Home Office final 12 months however many say they solely grew to become conscious of the change by way of information stories in latest weeks.
For many, the changes prompted a frantic seek for paperwork wanted to start passport functions throwing long-planned journeys into doubt, with critics slamming the federal government for poor communication.
Adding to frustrations, British passports and Certificates of Entitlement (COE) can take between three and 6 weeks to course of.
Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) CEO Dean Long mentioned the changes have been “unethical” and he’d written to the UK Home Office urging them to increase the February 25 deadline.
“It is causing chaos … it’s an ill-thought-through strategy that has unfortunately created massive disruption for thousands of people,”
Mr Long mentioned.
The British authorities mentioned the brand new rules have been in line with different nations’ border insurance policies and would strengthen nationwide safety.
Australian Travel Industry Association CEO Dean Long says the changes have already triggered chaos. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)
A vacation turned nightmare
For Laura Burke, from the New South Wales Central Coast, the rules have turned what ought to have been a joyful household journey right into a logistical nightmare.
Laura, an Australian citizen born in England, booked non-refundable flights for a March journey to the UK with her husband and their two younger youngsters, together with three-month-old Masie, for her step-father’s seventieth birthday.
What she thought could be routine — making use of for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) utilizing their Australian passports — shortly became a last-minute scramble.
Dual citizen Laura Burke continues to be ready on her daughter Masie’s British passport. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)
“I was scrolling Facebook and saw a post about the new rules,” Ms Burke mentioned.
“At first, I thought we could just get ETAs. But then I realised Masie and our older daughter are considered British citizens by descent, even if they’ve never held British passports, so they have to have UK passports too.”
She mentioned efforts to achieve the UK Passport Office and the British High Commission introduced blended responses and a number of stress.
“I’d call one department and get told to call another,” she mentioned. “No-one would give a straight answer.”
The household rushed to use for abroad paperwork together with the delivery certificates of Laura’s father and her mother and father’ marriage certificates. They’re nonetheless ready on British passports for his or her youngsters.
“We still don’t know if we’ll get them in time,” she mentioned.
“It’s incredibly stressful … you don’t want to cry, but it just means a lot, seeing family, meeting babies for the first time.”
Ms Burke says she came upon in regards to the new rules by way of social media. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)
Race towards time
Stephen Davis mentioned his expertise was related.
Having left the UK a long time in the past, the Sydney Blue Mountains resident assumed he may enter the nation on his Australian passport as he at all times had.
It was solely after studying an ABC article outlining the brand new rules that he realised his fast-approaching journey to have fun his pal’s seventieth birthday was in doubt.
Stephen Davis faces an anxious watch for his British passport. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)
“The travel agents I spoke to didn’t know, my British friends and family didn’t know. It makes you wonder how many others will get caught out,” he mentioned.
He initially tried to get an Emergency Travel Document however his British passport, which expired in 2008, was thought of too previous, which means he had no alternative however to use for a full passport renewal.
“It’s been incredibly stressful,”
he mentioned.
Mr Davis thought he would enter the nation on his Australian passport, as he beforehand had. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)
“I’m relatively tech-savvy and persistent but I can’t imagine how challenging it would be for someone who isn’t,” he mentioned.
“The lack of communication has been the frustrating part, it’s been incredibly difficult to get the information I needed, I’ve spoken to so many different people, webchats, it’s just been a nightmare.”
Industry warns of chaos
The ATIA has written to Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong about their issues.
“We’re seeing significant disruption, cancellations and financial loss because people did everything right when they booked but have been blindsided by this change,” Mr Long mentioned.
Mr Long says the affiliation has written to Foreign Minister Penny Wong about their issues. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)
“Many people don’t even realise they are considered UK citizens until they’re confronted with these requirements.
“They want time to resolve whether or not to resume their passports, apply for certificates, or resign citizenship altogether.”
Anyone with out a British passport or certificates of entitlement will likely be refused entry on flights to the UK. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)
Confusion and calls to delay
Across social media and travel forums, frustration is mounting.
Hundreds of Australians contacted the ABC saying they really feel misled, unaware of their dual citizenship standing, or confused by contradictory on-line details about journey eligibility.
Some are even considering renouncing their UK citizenship to avoid the passport process, though doing so is neither straightforward nor inexpensive — the renunciation process can take months, involves significant fees, and may not be approved by the UK government.
The parents of dual citizens also cannot renounce their children’s British citizenship on their behalf — applicants must be over 18.
The British government said the changes were necessary as part of modernising border controls.
In a press release to ABC, the British High Commission mentioned the up to date rules mirror the UK’s transfer to a extra digitised immigration system and are designed to enhance safety and effectivity.
Dual residents will likely be required to hold each their Australian passport for exiting and getting into Australia, and their British passport, for getting into the UK. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)
What travellers ought to know
Australians planning travel to the UK from February 25, 2026 should be aware:
- Dual British/Irish citizens must enter the UK on a valid British or Irish passport or have a Certificate of Entitlement.
- Dual citizens will be required to carry both their Australian passport for exiting and entering Australia, and their British passport, for entering the UK.
- Dual citizens cannot use an ETA or visa to enter the UK.
- Airlines and carriers will enforce the requirements at check-in, not just at border control.
- Processing times for passports and certificates can take weeks, so travellers should act now.
More data is out there on the Australian Government’s Smartraveller web site.
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