Entering the UK- or going to happen now

But it’s not ‘for nothing’ nanna8. The money they pay will be for a British passport and that’s what they will get - in exactly the same way that I, as a resident in Britain, have to pay for a British passport if I wish to travel abroad.

No-one is being ‘forced against their will’ to pay for a British passport. If your grand daughters wish to enter Britain, they need a British passport - their choice. It’s really very straightforward!

Do they have British nationality? My grandchildren don't. They would have to apply for it as far as I know, even if they were eligible. Their fathers have German and British nationalities but I don't see why this means that their children do.

My grandchildren were born in Australia and have never been to the UK. They are being forced to get uk passports against their will. My daughter rang the British consulate again to check because neither of us could believe it. It’s true. So they have to fork out hundreds of dollars for nothing.

BlueBelle

Rosie Nana8 left Uk 50 years ago, so obviously doesn’t pay taxes here and why should she vote in this country that she’s not interested in, not influenced by our ups and downs, for the majority of her life ….presumably she votes in her adopted country.

This is not a money making scheme nor an anti immigration scheme, it’s simply for UK to catch up with the rest of the world and have the same rulings as the rest and move into the electronic age

It’s not a punishment

Just to correct you Bluebelle, if your occupational pension is from Government or Local Government you continue to pay tax at source in the UK for life.
I totally agree that this is not any kind of punishment or money making scheme; it is in line with other countries in the world and the introduction of schemes like ETIAS.

Rosie Nana8 left Uk 50 years ago, so obviously doesn’t pay taxes here and why should she vote in this country that she’s not interested in, not influenced by our ups and downs, for the majority of her life ….presumably she votes in her adopted country.

This is not a money making scheme nor an anti immigration scheme, it’s simply for UK to catch up with the rest of the world and have the same rulings as the rest and move into the electronic age

It’s not a punishment

Basgetti

Why on earth should someone who hasn’t lived here for 50 years have the right to vote? Thats just not on.

Why shouldn't someone who holds British citizenship and is liable for UK tax have the right to influence the tax attitudes of government? That right is exercised by voting for the party that most aligns with your preferred tax regime. You don't have to like it to appreciate the validity.

Why on earth should someone who hasn’t lived here for 50 years have the right to vote? Thats just not on.

You can't just use your bus pass
More's the pity, that is free!

Surely there's nothing unusual about a British person using a British passport to enter Britain. You can't just use your bus pass. They're just in the same position as anyone else except they've chosen to have an Australian passport.

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.

Has this been thought through properly? If ETAs are required by so many countries now and are the future, why not let people with dual nationalities use them?

Or shall we see another U turn?

Maremia

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

Yes, I think they all have to be seen as doing something.

As an ETA links the passports electronically, how do they know who has left the country again after their stay if they used the other passport on the return journey and can't use an ETA?
🤔

So, you get into the North, then book to fly or sail from say Belfast, how strict is border control there?

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

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" .

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.

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"...

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.