Entering the UK- or going to happen now

Those of you who are so horrified by the British by descent rule might card to have a word with Margaret Thatcher whose government brought it in . Except a) she’s dead and b) that lady was not for turning

To make some Australian citizens' passports somehow 'lesser' seems quite prejudicial to my mind.

Yes, that's it exactly.

Now - if a parent born in the UK relinquished their British citizenship now, what happens when their child(ren) want to visit the UK? Are they still British by default because, at the time of their birth, their parent was still a British citizen even if they are no longer?
This has not been thought through properly.

I would have thought advisers, civil servants, lawyers would thought of all these pitfalls.

I'm not horrified at the right to acquire British citizenship by the descent rules, I'm disgusted at Britain (or any other country) being able to impose citizenship on an unwilling participant. I'd have thought anybody who values personal autonomy would be equally critical.

Exactly Allira there's potential for a lot of confusion going forward.

Allira

^To make some Australian citizens' passports somehow 'lesser' seems quite prejudicial to my mind.^

Yes, that's it exactly.

Now - if a parent born in the UK relinquished their British citizenship now, what happens when their child(ren) want to visit the UK? Are they still British by default because, at the time of their birth, their parent was still a British citizen even if they are no longer?
This has not been thought through properly.

I would have thought advisers, civil servants, lawyers would thought of all these pitfalls.

I think you’ll find it has been thought through. If the child had already been born before the parent renounces, then the child keeps their British by descent status. If born afterwards, then does not acquire it. Do you we’d tighf, it had been thought through. 😂

Gobbledygook says ‘so you’re right’😂

Who Needs a UK ETA?
Whether you need to apply for an ETA before travelling to the UK depends on the following:

Your nationality (as shown on your current and valid passport)
Australian!
Your purpose of travel, i.e., you are coming to the UK as a visitor for up to six months (with exception for people requiring a Marriage Visitor visa), for up to three months on the Creative Worker visa concession, for a permitted paid engagement, or to transit through the UK (applicable only for transit via land border control)
Your date of travel
^Your other UK immigration status prior to apply for an ETA
Nationals from the following countries (including associated territories) must apply for an ETA now^:

Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Etc.
Trinidad and Tobago
Untrue - you need a visa now.

Current advice from a specialist company which assists with immigration, visas and ETAs. If they are not clear on the rules, how can ordinary travellers be expected to know?

Maybe this link is better than a specialist company?

www.gov.uk/eta

www.theguardian.com/travel/2026/jan/14/australian-dual-citizens-british-passports-travel-rules-changes-explained?hl=en-GB

This was from last month (January +4th) by the way.

Rosie51

I'm not horrified at the right to acquire British citizenship by the descent rules, I'm disgusted at Britain (or any other country) being able to impose citizenship on an unwilling participant. I'd have thought anybody who values personal autonomy would be equally critical.

Exactly Allira there's potential for a lot of confusion going forward.

It's somewhat strange to me that Britain is often criticised on these boards for our imperialistic past, and yet this present day imposing of citizenship on unwilling victims is seen as OK, and actually defended. Someone who is only half British has no say on this imposition, and would have to spend a large amount of money to remove something they never wanted or requested.
Why are you in favour of this TulipTree?

I agree that imposing a UK passport on a person born in another country because one of their parents was born in Uk seems outrageous.

If I were to try to get a UK passport, I would have to provide my mother's birth certificate, her marriage certificate and proof of her citizenship. My mother has been deceased for over 20 years, and I don't even know if the documents exists or where I would obtain copies. That in itself would be very expensive from here in Canada.

I do hope that the entry visa would be good enough if I am a tourist. I have no plans to travel but I could see that it could stop me from going there if I had to spend months and dollars tracking down documents.

CanadianGran

I agree that imposing a UK passport on a person born in another country because one of their parents was born in Uk seems outrageous.

If I were to try to get a UK passport, I would have to provide my mother's birth certificate, her marriage certificate and proof of her citizenship. My mother has been deceased for over 20 years, and I don't even know if the documents exists or where I would obtain copies. That in itself would be very expensive from here in Canada.

I do hope that the entry visa would be good enough if I am a tourist. I have no plans to travel but I could see that it could stop me from going there if I had to spend months and dollars tracking down documents.

I think automatic citizenship may not apply to you, unless you were born in or after 2006, CanadianGran which I assume, by your username, you were not.
But please check, as I said, it is very confusing.

It is confusing because you may have been born before 1983:

You were born before 1983
You may automatically be a British citizen if you were born before 1 January 1983 and:

you were born outside the UK
your father is British

As I said, it has not been thought through.

I’m a Canadian with dual citizenship. About 10 years ago, arriving in Ottawa to visit my dad, I was told by a very rude border guard that I had better apply for a Canadian passport soon. Turns out, as a native Canadian I could no longer enter Canada on my British passport and I wasn’t allow to use an ETA.
It cost me a fortune as I had to pay for a new copy of my birth certificate as well as the passport application which cost twice as much as a domestic application. I was very cross but as I needed to visit my dad regularly it was necessary.
I hardly ever go to Canada now but have to apply for a renewal soon just in case I do need to travel there. It does seem unfair but what the UK is doing is not unique.

Summysoom

I’m a Canadian with dual citizenship. About 10 years ago, arriving in Ottawa to visit my dad, I was told by a very rude border guard that I had better apply for a Canadian passport soon. Turns out, as a native Canadian I could no longer enter Canada on my British passport and I wasn’t allow to use an ETA.
It cost me a fortune as I had to pay for a new copy of my birth certificate as well as the passport application which cost twice as much as a domestic application. I was very cross but as I needed to visit my dad regularly it was necessary.
I hardly ever go to Canada now but have to apply for a renewal soon just in case I do need to travel there. It does seem unfair but what the UK is doing is not unique.

Maybe it's not unique, that doesn't make it right. Do your children if you have any, (please don't feel obliged to answer if you'd prefer not to), also have Canadian citizenship and therefore a necessity for a Canadian passport imposed upon them, whether or not they want or request it?

You may rarely go to Canada Summysoom but you have chosen to retain your citizenship. I'm sure you think these changes are worth sorting out in order to do that. It has to be procedural as it's a legal process but really, most people will, most likely, chuter about the cost and just get on with it as you did.

I don't think all the repetitions of the legal rules helps. We can all feel out our depth at times with paperwork but it isn't really nanna8's problem to solve. It the AGCs with the help of their parents.

Chunter!

Perhaps these links might help anyone who is trying to plough their way through these new rules:

www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-british-parent/born-on-or-after-1-july-2006
www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-british-parent/born-between-1983-and-2006
www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-british-parent/born-before-1983

So my son in Canada who cannot afford to come with his family to the UK should apply again for a British passport so when his father or I die he can come over for the funeral if he feels the need. He is a Canadian naturalised citizen with a Canadian passport, his wife but not his children could travel on Canadian passports. The lack of humanity and compassion is astounding. Especially from people who portray themselves as caring individuals.
I wish someone would tell me why they think it is correct for Britain to dictate that a child born in a foreign country to one British parent should have no say in whether or not they are a British citizen. Seems decidedly fascist to me.

I wish someone would tell me why they think it is correct for Britain to dictate that a child born in a foreign country to one British parent should have no say in whether or not they are a British citizen.
Unless they pay not to be so!! 😁

Allira

^I wish someone would tell me why they think it is correct for Britain to dictate that a child born in a foreign country to one British parent should have no say in whether or not they are a British citizen.^
Unless they pay not to be so!! 😁

Yes, the same old same old, money speaks!!

Rosie51

So my son in Canada who cannot afford to come with his family to the UK should apply again for a British passport so when his father or I die he can come over for the funeral if he feels the need. He is a Canadian naturalised citizen with a Canadian passport, his wife but not his children could travel on Canadian passports. The lack of humanity and compassion is astounding. Especially from people who portray themselves as caring individuals.
I wish someone would tell me why they think it is correct for Britain to dictate that a child born in a foreign country to one British parent should have no say in whether or not they are a British citizen. Seems decidedly fascist to me.

If he wants to travel for your funeral, then yes, it's the law for everyone. Why should your family members be exempt? My son will have to follow the same rules, but he’s proactive and organised, so I imagine it will be sorted with reminders where necessary.

Why is someone's inability to follow the rules always someone else’s fault?

If he wants to travel for your funeral, then yes, it's the law for everyone.

Depends if a law is just or not.
Just because something is a law does not make it common sense.

Re Canadian son. If the individual is content with their Canadian citizenship and doesn't want to pursue British nationality, then there's no obligation to do so.

As for traveling to the UK, yes, the individual could absolutely travel on their Canadian passport. If they don't claim British citizenship, they would simply travel as a Canadian citizen and follow the UK's visa or entry requirements for non-citizens, depending on their specific situation.

He could, if the have already claimed British nationality but that is going to cost too.

We all have to pay for services provided. I really don't understand why some people think the should not have to.

Allira

^If he wants to travel for your funeral, then yes, it's the law for everyone.^

Depends if a law is just or not.
Just because something is a law does not make it common sense.

Why isn't it Allira? What about it is unjust? Don't you think we should improve our methods for capturing statistics? I've no doubt you the complainers on here would be the first to complain if the government didn't.

claimed British nationality claimed British nationality, relinquish it,

DaisyAnneReturns

Re Canadian son. If the individual is content with their Canadian citizenship and doesn't want to pursue British nationality, then there's no obligation to do so.

As for traveling to the UK, yes, the individual could absolutely travel on their Canadian passport. If they don't claim British citizenship, they would simply travel as a Canadian citizen and follow the UK's visa or entry requirements for non-citizens, depending on their specific situation.

He could, if the have already claimed British nationality but that is going to cost too.

We all have to pay for services provided. I really don't understand why some people think the should not have to.

Do you have reading comprehension difficulties?
My son was born in the UK, has married a Canadian and moved to Canada. Has taken Canadian citizenship and has a Canadian passport. Still with me? His children, born in Canada to a Canadian mother and naturalised Canadian father are by diktat assumed to be British not Canadian and in need of British passports to enter the UK. You don't have a problem with them being dictated to by an imperialist British government?
They cannot (except for purely Canadian mum) travel on Canadian passports. It's not at all as you portray, I await your apology for misunderstanding the entire situation. My grandchildren have not requested British citizenship it has been thrusted upon them in terms of entry to UK.