Entering the UK- or going to happen now

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.

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 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.

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?

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.

Maybe this link is better than a specialist company?

www.gov.uk/eta

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?

Gobbledygook says ‘so you’re right’😂

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. 😂

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.

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.

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

It's rather draconian to insist that any child born in a foreign country to parents only one of whom has any tie to Britain must assume British citizenship and travel on a British passport.
My DGC's father has no links whatsoever to this country.
I'm wondering if DGC will need three passports now if other countries have introduced this?

Rosie51

Any Australian citizen should be able to travel on that passport plus any required entry visa. To make some Australian citizens' passports somehow 'lesser' seems quite prejudicial to my mind.
It's rather draconian to insist that any child born in a foreign country to parents only one of whom has any tie to Britain must assume British citizenship and travel on a British passport.
There really must be a cheaper, easier way to relinquish your unwanted entitlement to British citizenship than paying £589 for a certificate of entitlement.

Like I suggested it should be an active choice.

Allira what would a U-turn on this issue look like? I genuinely don’t understand. The British by descent rule was not brought in by KS and the rules about entering a country on the passport if that country if you have two passports is hardly unique to the UK.

Any Australian citizen should be able to travel on that passport plus any required entry visa. To make some Australian citizens' passports somehow 'lesser' seems quite prejudicial to my mind.
It's rather draconian to insist that any child born in a foreign country to parents only one of whom has any tie to Britain must assume British citizenship and travel on a British passport.
There really must be a cheaper, easier way to relinquish your unwanted entitlement to British citizenship than paying £589 for a certificate of entitlement.

Allira when this thread started that was not the issue. Read the opening post and then carry on telling us all off😂

BlueBelle

One of my grandaughters is travelling in the Far East and Australia/ NZ at the moment and she has spent a LOT of money on visas and other necessary paperwork and done a large amount of research to have the correct paperwork that’s needed It's not a ten minute job and you CANNOT do it over night at least you don't need lots of injections to come to Uk

Nana8 is angry because the family have been caught on the back foot and now have to play catch up. Many people hold two passports for the sake of convenience and this would have been the answer.
Travelling anywhere is not easy nor is it cheap You need to do your homework in plenty of time not a few weeks before and it’s no good blaming everyone else

You're missing the point Bluebelle.

Australians are finding that they have to have a second passport to enter the UK simply because one of their parents was born in the UK.

This is not something they chose.

SueDonim

This subject has now hit the Guardian in the UK.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/13/dual-nationals-denied-entry-to-uk-british-passport-border-control?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Well, if it's being reported in the Guardian it must be a real problem to bd taken seriously!

One of my grandaughters is travelling in the Far East and Australia/ NZ at the moment and she has spent a LOT of money on visas and other necessary paperwork and done a large amount of research to have the correct paperwork that’s needed It's not a ten minute job and you CANNOT do it over night at least you don't need lots of injections to come to Uk

Nana8 is angry because the family have been caught on the back foot and now have to play catch up. Many people hold two passports for the sake of convenience and this would have been the answer.
Travelling anywhere is not easy nor is it cheap You need to do your homework in plenty of time not a few weeks before and it’s no good blaming everyone else

Allira - mmmm some might see this as a bit of goadiness.

Rosie51

Good advice Allira, pure goady.

I'm sure there used to be a different poster that delighted in similar.

Yes, just confirmed in her last post to me, Rosie51.

There’s some master classes in goadiness on some threads atm. Responding to an article posted by someone else hardly comes close😂😂

SueDonim

This subject has now hit the Guardian in the UK.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/13/dual-nationals-denied-entry-to-uk-british-passport-border-control?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

I think this is another of those unexpected consequences of the Government trying to solve a huge problem but not thinking it through properly.

The farmers - trying to target wealthy landowners but instead hitting those who are just about making a living providing our food and who wish to pass on the family farm

The Winter Fuel Payment which hit those just above the threshold ad left many pensioners cold and frightened.

The attempt to cut the Welfare bill but they had to make U turn on PIP payments after 100 backbenchers threatened to rebel.

Other U turns:
Hospitality sector
Digital ID for workers
Plus any others. How many U turns so far?

Will this become another U turn?

I'm not whingeing. I am sorely disappointed that they do not think everything through, examine the details and the consequences for ordinary people and don't get everything right before changing the rules and laws.

Maybe a middle ground so the OPs GC entitled to British citizenship but have to apply for it.