PSA: New UK travel rules for dual nationals with kids
Posted by xpltvdeleted@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 145 comments
This one might be a little niche, but with the new UK rules coming in February 26th, as a Brit who also has American citizenship, I learnt something about my non-UK born kids' status that took me from feeling prepared for the new travel rules coming in, to suddenly sweating about it. So thought I'd share if people aren't aware.
First of all - if you're a dual national you can't (legally) travel to the UK on your foreign passport and an ETA any more. You need a British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement (these take 8 weeks and cost 600quid).
I have a British passport (I'm British born) and a US passport, so no problem, right? Well, my kids only have US passports, which I didn't think was a problem (spoiler: it is).
Due to life getting in the way I had never registered their births in the UK and hadn't bothered applying for passports for them yet, so I assumed they were just US citizens and could continue to travel to the UK on their US passports until I decided to go through that birth registration process. Dangerous assumption, under the new rules.
It turns out, the way the British government works; broadly* if you were born in the UK and have kids born outside the UK, those kids are automatically British / dual citizens.
This was the key thing for me, because while that fact didn't really mean much in the past, now it means my kids cannot enter the UK on their US passports.
The options therefore are (now ETA is no longer permitted for dual citizens) either a certificate of entitlement - which costs around 600gbp and takes 8 weeks - or applying for a British passport which is 70gbp takes 4 weeks. The downside is that you require a lot more documentation to apply.
There could be a lot of people with trips planned or even booked to the UK expecting to bring their kids through on the kids foreign passport that are going to get a nasty shock.
I am one of those people. I travel in 5 weeks and I applied for their passports last week. Best case scenario we get the passports a few days before we fly....
*There are some differences is if you were born in 1982 or earlier and you are female (British citizenship was only automatic through the dad) or I think between 1983-2006 parents needed to be married at the time of birth. I need you to brush your teeth first. You want to dress up
Sticky999@reddit
Without any judgement from people please. I'm English and my kid is 17 i was going to get a passport for her before 18. She now is traveling to the uk. She is automatically dual by decent. Buuut do the uk gov know she is dual if I haven't applied for a passport and can she travel on the EU passport plus ETA? Will the system know? That's it. Simple question. I can't find a basic answer to a basic question.
GetRektByMeh@reddit
She can’t (legally), as she’s not eligible for it. Would it work? Probably.
Background-Delay-676@reddit
Agree with all of this, plus people that say why didn’t you just do it, it’s actually not that easy. It requires both maternal and paternal birth certificates. My kids paternal grandparents are not British and live in a different country to where their documents are kept. Ordering more may take months and months. So people thinking this is just a straight forward process may be the case when you are both British not so much when only one parent is British.
Has anyone gone through this and struggled to even get in laws documents? My in-laws are a bit uncomfortable with mailing lots of their things to London especially when they only have one copy of their birth certificate
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
Yeah, totally agree with this.
For what its worth, my non-British wife's parents are also absolutely dead against sending their details to a foreign government. One of them worked for their government and is just wired that way. We called Home Office and they told my wife that they only needed the grandparents documents on the British side, despite the way it's worded on the Home Office website (I agree it looks like they need both British and non-British grandparents' documents).
My British parents sent over their documents without much fuss.
So, all that said, the person we spoke to may have been wrong. I guess we'll find out in the next week or so when they review our documents. We tracked our submissions today and they confirmed they have been received and sent internally and we should expect an email in the next few days....
Crossing fingers.
Farquea@reddit
This is interesting and aligns with what someone else above said about they didn't send in-laws documents. When I went through the application process, it clearly stated to send maternal grandparents' documents, I was tempted to chance it and just not provide them (they aren't easily accessible) but it was so clearly stated that It felt daft to ignore it. I guess I'll give it another shot soon then.
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
I just got an email telling me our documents have been scanned in and are in the examination queue... I'll update when I know
Environmental_Job521@reddit
HI there, do you have any updates by any chance? u/sasspirello confirmed only docs needed for the british parent (grandparent?) Do you have the same experience?
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
So, I had the most absurd pushback asking for a one page document asking for paternal grandparents date of birth, birth place, passport number and marriage date. I had already sent them the ACTUAL birth certificates and ACTUAL marriage certificate.
Anyway, I had to then send that over and yesterday I got a note saying my application was approved and passport is being printed.
So, yes, the only grandparents' info required is the British parents'
But in typical UK government fashion, I got that for ONE passport. The other one is currently still pending. No idea why. I need to chase it up.
Snoodini@reddit
Did you end up getting all the needed passports in time? I'm. In the same situation now, we travel on July 27th and am panicking. I am currently waiting for grandparents birth and marriage certificates before I can send all the documents off. How long did it take from when you sent documents to having the passports, with all the silly delays you had?
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
I got the second of the two passports at 10.30pm the night before we travelled. It was very stressful
Start to finish Feb 18th - April 2nd , so what's that 43 days? Without the delay, the first one came in March 17th so I make that 27 days.
Good luck!
Farquea@reddit
I just entered the UK with my daughter using the existing ETA to get on the plane and her Canadian Passport at the border. Had no issues or questions
Snoodini@reddit
Did she already have the ETA from before Feb 26th,or did you apply for it when it was clear the passport wouldn't arrive in time?
Farquea@reddit
Had it from last year. I believe they changed the questions recently where you'd have to lie on the ETA now to get one if deemed a British citizen.
Sasspirello@reddit
So I’ve just been through this whole process and received the kids passports today. Same situation as you but we’re British with New Zealander kids. Their passports took 6 weeks but that was mainly because of slow certificates from the registry office (we had to order copies). You definitely only need documentation for the British parent.
Environmental_Job521@reddit
thanks for this info! Does that mean only the docs for the British grandparents too?
Sasspirello@reddit
Yep! They only want to know about your British heritage as that’s what allows your kids to claim British citizenship.
Background-Delay-676@reddit
This is great news and very helpful. I appreciate your response!
Historical-Plan-3757@reddit
You can order British documents from the GRO and have the posted directly to the passport office :)
Unlucky_Apple_3907@reddit
I am a dual citizen and it never occurred to me I could travel to my country of citizenship on a different passport. It's probably an offence and isn't allowed in many countries. It just doesn't make sense that you are a citizen and would use a foreign passport to enter. That's me however, it seems many people from the UK have recently learnt it's something they shouldn't be doing.
Vols1928@reddit
But what I’ve you’ve grown up in a country like such as the U.S. your whole life and would like to visit England. You have an English parent though and are automatically a citizen so you must get a passport. You basically have no ties expect one of your parents was born there so how is that disrespectful to that other nation. You’re missing the point here
Unlucky_Apple_3907@reddit
It doesn't matter if it's disrespectful or not, by offence I meant a civil/criminal, as in some countries I believe entering on a wrong document could lead to questioning or even a fine. No one in the law enforcement would care if someone is a dual national from a binational family the law is the same for everyone. You're missing the point.
Colloidal_entropy@reddit
If you've never registered the existence of the child with the UK govt, then the system will probably let you request an ETA for them using the non-UK passport, which will get you on the plane. If you and they are UK citizens once you get to the border there's not a lot they're going to do other than let you through.
I wouldn't recommend it as a long term solution, but if you're flying in the next couple of weeks and can't get a UK passport in time it's probably the best option.
It probably won't work for people who have previously had British passports and lapsed as assuming it's from a country the UK speaks to e.g. Canada, Australia etc they share data.
Environmental_Job521@reddit
thinking of risking this as the British passport might actually not arrive on time...
Is there anyone here who has actually done this? Just chanced it with a child who was born abroad and was never registered in the UK?
Daughter (11yo) never registered in the UK , born in the Netherlands . Other daughter (14yo) born in UK however, we can get her old british passport renewed so not too much stress there. Wonder whether they will find it weird 1 child travelling with British passport and other one Dutch.
syf81@reddit
As a dual national myself I find it increasingly strange how many people “just don’t bother” with what is basically a 1 time registration at birth or any time after that.
Imagine being born with the privilege of dual citizenship and your parents are just “oh life got in the way we never got around to it” before scrambling last minute to fix their mess.
Haegin@reddit
It's not just life getting in the way. I'm British, living in Canada with a Canadian wife and have two kids (one is nearly 2 and the other is \~6 weeks). We're all going to be travelling to the UK in June for my sister's wedding and I now need to get UK passports for both kids. To do this, I need to provide some expected documents, like their birth certificates and Canadian passports, but I also need to provide my wife's parent's birth certificates and marriage certificate, despite the fact that she and her parents are both Canadian with no claim to British citizenship. They'
Eastern-Story-6541@reddit
I would have had no problem if it was our decision for our kids (who were born outside of the UK) to receive dual citizenship - but we had no choice. Our kids were automatically made UK citizens and there seems to be no way to renounce it (Please correct me if I'm wrong!!). We are now forced use our time and money for passports we don't want.
aintthatdeeptho@reddit
There is a form on the uk.gov website to renounce it. We asked the British consulate and that’s what they said our options are, renounce it, get a passport or get a COE
Forsaken-Brain682@reddit
I'm in the same boat as OP and didn't know about automatic UK citizenship from birth even when kids are born abroad. My Kids consider themselves American, not British. Why don't they get to choose? But now they can't visit the UK without a UK passport. This is not a small inconvenience the way you suggest. This is ridiculous.
Necessary_Eagle_3657@reddit
Why would I want to have done that? My daughter is Australian as far as she and I are concerned. It's where she was born. I also think these rule changes are idiotic at best. Finally, no one tells you these things at the birth of a child.
PeteGabitas@reddit
Fully agree. Ridiculous rule to introduce.
Omg_stop@reddit
My son's head wasn't even clear of the birth canal before his father was registering his birth with the UK government...some 1300 miles away in the states. :)
I'm still angry at my great grandparents (UK) for not registering my grandmother's birth in the US with the UK government. having the ability to apply for legacy visa would have saved me so much heartache almost 80 years later.
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
I knew this would get a comment. It was always my intention to do so (they're 4 and 1 respectively), I was actually halfway through the process with my first born with a 'resume your application' email in my inbox when all this happened.
Life gets in the way. We lost all our worldy possessions in Eaton fire in California at the start of 2024 and spent the following 8 months trying to get things back on track including finding a new home and relocating 1500 miles away - so life gets in the way sometimes, you know?
joan2468@reddit
It’s terrible that this happened to you but unfortunately the vast majority of people failing to have done their paperwork is not due to personal tragedy but just complacence and laziness.
Eastern-Story-6541@reddit
The thing is many so-called "foreign nationals" don't consider themselves as such since they are primarily citizens (dual citizens) of the country they are living in.
Smart_Decision_1496@reddit
I’m sorry to hear! Hope you fully recover…
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
Thanks! It was a long year but pretty much back to a form of normality now. We rented which was the only fortunate thing - as much as it pained us to leave, we accepted the loss and moved on, rebought what we could with family support and the insurance coverage we had.
A lot of our neighbours who owned aren't even at the stage of starting rebuilding yet...
FloconSon@reddit
I find this comment shortsighted. I am a 44 year old dual citizen that just got his UK passport less than 10 years ago. When my parents moved to Canada in the 70s, it's likely they had no clue they had to register my birth. I think it's easy to say this with the availability of information nowadays but the Internet didn't exist in the 70s and the British embassy or consulate wasn't exactly a weekly visit for my parents.
Countess_ofDumbarton@reddit
Now imagine being a child when your family came to Canada. Your identity is Canadian. Then you find out your now adult children who were born in Canada are considered British. They don't want it, would rather have their father's EU citizenship.
It's a cash grab plain and simple.
I haven't asked or received anything from the UK. Educated, worked, retired in Canada and honestly, won't take that final trip to see my birthplace due to these rules.
Eastern-Story-6541@reddit
Exactly. My husband was born in France to a British mother, moved to the UK when he was very young and lived there for a few years. While in the UK he was registered as a British citizen (obviously, by his mother, not himself). Then moved to Canada with his whole family when he was 8 years old. He has zero connection to the UK. We would have never thought to register our kids with the British government.
So now, with a trip to the UK a few months away it was quite a surprise to find out that our children may in fact be British citizen and need a British passport to enter the country.
Nomoreorangecarrots@reddit
Totally agree. OP should see the reverse process of registering a non US born citizen to USA. It’s a visit to the embassy and records proving you have lived in the US for 5 years.
At first they didn’t want to nationalize my eldest because they didn’t think my records were satisfactory and I had grown up in the USA and did all my schooling there.
The UK is a breeze to register in comparison it’s very normal to need to enter a country you are a citizen of with their passport even if you have another one.
My kids have had both passports since they were 1.
Cobil78@reddit
Our kiddo who holds Swiss & British passports is probably a U.S. citizen under pre-2017 rules relating to birth abroad by a US citizen mother. To be registered the mum must have been physically present 365 days in USA before the birth. The only possible time was when the mum was 3 months to 3 years. There are only two potential witnesses—grandparents of whom one is dead. Kid inherited a lot of money. Do you think we want him to face FBAR & U.S. tax on the £600,000 he inherited? Fuhgeddaboudit.
AdStriking2594@reddit
I'm flying in a week with a few weeks old baby. Got them an Australian passport in time, but now realising probably need UK one too. Having a passport from 1 year old not much use.
Just because some other country might also have annoying rules, doesn't make this change also annoying.
teapigsfan@reddit
I'll against the grain and agree with you, I don't think you've said this harshly. Having children adds paperwork and crossing borders is serious business; OP has been fortunate that this is "only" an issue on the UL side because US border control would be much more harsh.
And while the fire aspect of the story is horrific and I'm very sorry to hear about what they're going through, I think it's a little unfair to bring it out as an unknown defense to an argument. Maybe for the 1 yr old but the 4 yr old? Honestly my German husband was out filing paperwork while I was still in hospital. Probably helps that he has an ingrained fear of the requirement for papers at border crossings from his own childhood!
OP it's good that you've taken the time to type this out, in case anyone else is on this situation. I have no idea how you've managed so far tbh; I've relied on my son's passport as proof that he is allowed in to whichever country we are traveling to for quite a while now. I would have thought that traveling into the UK on a US passport would have started a timer on the length of time they were allowed to stay? I guess they weren't keeping track?
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
Honestly, I think it goes both ways. I wasn't trying to shame the poster making the reply - I'm just making the point that when people act high and mighty and dismiss 'life getting in the way' (and don't get me wrong - that's just the internet so I know the general tone will be 'well you deserve it'), it's often because they haven't considered that life getting in the way might actually be something pretty significant rather than just 'I had a lot on'. I could have thrown health issues into the mix as well, but didn't.
Ultimately I'm the one (potentially) paying the price if the passports don't arrive in time. But I'm sharing it because there are still a huge amount of people that thing US passport + ETA is still good.
Also worth noting that until this new rule comes into play, there was no real time pressure to register the birth with the UK authorities other than doing it before they're 18. There's also signficant press coverage about how poorly this has been communicated. The reason I bothered to type it out is I shared my experience (after asking for help) in one of the British expats groups and there are a vast number of people in the same shoes based on the replies.
Aiguille23@reddit
I think people shaming you have completely forgotten about Covid, OP. Like, if your kids were born during covid, registration paperwork was basically the furthest thing on your mind? I'm in the same situation with a different country, and it's crazy the amount of "well, why didn't you just do it when they were born? It was easy!" that I've been getting from single citizenship relatives. People really don't know. I was busy doing a bunch of bs paperwork over and over again because the country I'm resident in is famous for drawing out anything paperwork related. And I was breastfeeding, and working, and legally was the only parent to be able to apply for citizenship from my country. Also, getting passports made involves photos, applications, extra proofs that need to be translated if your child was born abroad, significant costs to mail from abroad.... Only to have to be renewed every five years. If you have multiple children with more than one citizenship, it's around 125-150euros every five years of their lives, per child, just so that they can hold a passport from the second country... It's absurd!
YourLocalMosquito@reddit
We’re in the same camp as you. Baby arrived? Do the admin.
ajaxdrivingschool@reddit
Agree totally! And so many people don’t realize that their kids are undocumented citizens because they didn’t register the birth and apply for the passport, there is no choice when it comes to citizenship when it’s automatic.
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
Yeah, that's just it - my four year old has been to the UK 4 or 5 times now and my 1 year old once and we never had any problems travelling on the US passport.
The reason I'm posting this (and risking the wrath of the 'well you brought it on yourself' crowd, is because the expats groups (on FB and the like) are popping off at the moment with people suddenly realising this might be a problem for their kids travelling on US passports and there being so much mixed information out there.
Phospherate@reddit
Thank you thank you thank you. I will be having our baby outside the UK but will have British/American/Dutch citizenship. I'm adding their notice of birth to my calendar to get it sorted, I deffo would have come into the same issues as you!
control-alt-deleted@reddit
Couldn’t agree more…
PowerfulIron7117@reddit
Quite. This whole thing has been bizarre from my perspective. When our dual national kids were born, I got their second passports sorted out within weeks.
The UK administration is notoriously terrible at keeping track of who’s who, and you need loads of annoying documents to establish British citizenship. So why not just get it over with asap. It should be a complete non issue.
The backup option is just to travel on Visa with the second passport until you get the new one. I know people who did this and it didn’t matter at all. The British government have no idea who anyone is, and no consolidated record of citizens.
Neither_Cattle_2390@reddit
Up until not long ago I was never allowed “to bother” as my parents never married so I wasn’t entitled. Now I am since the law cha ged and now have this palava to deal with!
0x706c617921@reddit
Most people don't take citizenship and legal status seriously.
Inevitable_Rock_3236@reddit
Wow you’re a judgemental little so and so aren’t you! I hope you read the reply from the OP and try to be a little less judgey in future ☺️☺️
hmtk1976@reddit
Not judgemental at all.
Pour_Me_Another_@reddit
I let my British passport expire a few years ago and don't know anyone to countersign it (not sure how long until you need that) so guess I'm staying where I am lol.
Agitated-Cobbler-993@reddit
You don't need anyone to countersign if it's just a renewal. Do you know where your old passport is?
Pour_Me_Another_@reddit
Thankfully, I do know where it is. I had thought if you leave it for too long it's basically treated as a new application.
Agitated-Cobbler-993@reddit
It depends how much your appearance has changed.
Countess_ofDumbarton@reddit
well mine expired nearly 40 years ago, so it's a new application
BastardsCryinInnit@reddit
You can defo tell you've been in the US for a while cos this is verrrrry main character enrrgy long winded coded 😂
There is no requirement to register kids with the UK Gov.
The general view is if the UK governement doesnt know your kids exist, just get an ETA.
The second you tell them they exist, then yes, get a UK passport.
My own PSA?
Getting a UK passport is not difficult nor long
tastethehappy@reddit
Its not that easy.
You now have get ALL grandparents' Birth and Marriage certs, in addition to parents' and applicant's certificates.
The local records office has required my wife's BC, to allow her to receive her mother's BC.
My mother, not uncommon for her generation, was born overseas during the war, and we have to go through GRO special overseas certificate request process.
Then there's the confirmation of identity from a recognized profession, various letters etc.
It's not trivial.
Flatbushhh@reddit
I live in Canada just recieved a British passport for my baby. I just sent my birth certificate, my mother's, and my son's along with his Canadian passport. They then asked me for a signed letter listing my mother's passport number, address and for it to be signed. Overall took 4 weeks to get the British passport. I didnt send my inlaws birth certificates as I didn't think that was an appropriate request.
Resident-Decision-72@reddit
Hey just wondering if that’s all they needed, just your mother’s info. They didn’t need your dads, and his birth certificate ? I’m in the same boat. I’m British but live in Canada, and my children were born in Canada.
Flatbushhh@reddit
Yep, just my mother's information. Once they received the documents this was emailed to me:
British passports are issued to those who have a claim to British nationality under the British Nationality Act 1981. This is decided mainly by a person’s place and date of birth and their parents’ places and dates of birth. A person born outside of the UK after 31 December 1982 is normally a British citizen only if, at the time of their birth one parent is a British citizen otherwise than by descent, such as through birth in the UK or registration or naturalisation as a British citizen. We need evidence to confirm this.
We need a hand-signed and dated letter with the following details about child's name mother’s own mother:
their first name their last name their middles names – if they have them any previous names they may have had their date of birth their town of birth their country of birth their nationality their marriage or civil partnership date their British passport number, if they have a British passport their British passport issue date, if they have a British passport their British passport expiry date, if they have a British passport
BastardsCryinInnit@reddit
No, sorry, we need to adult here.
What you are describing is literally what everyone born after 1983 has to do. Spoiler alert, there are many of us. And there are also many people with a parent born overseas in the 50s or 60s.
It is basic structured admin. The forms are clear and online, the requirements are listed, translations can be done online, and millions of people complete it successfully every year.
I think a lot of people here have main character syndrome, and it is easier to blame or berate a system like applying for a passport cos it protects ego.
We need to pack this broader online trend where normal adult tasks get framed as monumental obstacles, in.
Farquea@reddit
I'd like to disagree with that last statement. Me being a UK citizen, I started the UK passport process a few years ago for my kids and backed off when I was asked to provide birth and wedding certificates of my Canadian wife's elderly parents.....
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
Alright that first sentence makes me feel like I'm having a stroke, so I'll just skirt past that.
The second sentence might well be true (and I hadn't registered them because there was no urgent need at the time) but the fact remains those kids are automatically British citizens and that 'general view' requires you to break the law as of Feb 26, which is fine if you consider the risk worthwhile for a trip to the UK. I ummed and ahhed about risking it this time at least, but if you've ever had kids, you'd know the prospect of sitting in an airport for 6 hours with them is not an appealing one.
Agreed getting a first UK passport is not a lengthy process - but personally speaking (and for quite a few others) if you have a trip in the coming months, the 'roughly four week' turnaround guidance they give you can be nervewracking.
Applying for it is as difficult or easy as gathering the documents is for the individual - so mileage may vary. I did have to ask my parents to gather their birth certificates and marriage certificate and send them in. Others I've spoken to have told me the idea of expecting their aging parents to know where all that documentation is and then sending it all separately to the home office terrifies them.
someguy984@reddit
If you want to get technical a British citizen isn't required to even have a passport to enter the UK since citizens have right of abode. The documents like passports provide proof that someone is a citizen, but passports do not confer citizenship.
y_if@reddit
So they couldn’t actually deny entry, right?
someguy984@reddit
"But the UK Home Office has quietly updated its website, saying carriers could now "at their own discretion" accept an "expired British passport as an alternative document"."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-23/more-uk-passport-rule-changes-electronic-travel-authorisation/106377682
formerlyfed@reddit
nothing wrong with being a little main character energy coded IMO. it's a very high agency thing to do
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
Haha okay I got IMO this time
Apprehensive-Top3675@reddit
If you have a passport, normally the only documentation you need to get a passport for your child is their (foreign) birth certificate. You do not need to register the birth in the UK.
The only possible reason you would want a certificate of entitlement instead of a passport is if your other country of citizenship prohibits dual citizenship and you don’t want them to find out, but that doesn’t apply to you.
And none of this is unique to the UK. US citizens are legally required to use a US passport when entering and exiting the US (and unlike in the UK, there are penalties for not complying). I feel like it should just be common sense that if you are a citizen of a country, you should use that country’s passport when entering it?
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
Specific to my kids, i assumed (wrongly) they were using citizens only until I told the British government otherwise. I didn't realise it was an 'automatically dual citizen' situation. So they both travelled to the UK in the past using their US passports without problem.
Obviously that all changes now, but personally I had no problem due to having both passports.
ablivion@reddit
I suggest you ring the passport office asap. Don't trust that the application will go through and you will recieve it a few days before.
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
They did actually tell me to track the package and then call the passport office to give them the tracking number! Pretty nerve-wracking
ablivion@reddit
Has it been approved? I assume you have applied and sent the documentation, but until it is in approved and in transit...
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
No I'm expecting my documents to arrive in the UK probably Tuesday
Forsaken-Brain682@reddit
Did you apply for UK passports for your kids? I'm in the samw boat. I assumed my children were American! Seems really bizarre and stupid to force them to enter the country as UK citizens. I hate this so much. We're supposed to be travelling in 5 weeks now I'm wondering if we have to cancel our non refundable plane tickets 🫠
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
Hey sounds like I'm traveling same time as you - yes I applied. 125usd to get 2 day delivery to the UK. It arrived last Friday and apparently yesterday (weds) they scanned all my docs and they're in the application queue. No idea how long it takes from here....
Forsaken-Brain682@reddit
Good luck. We bought non refundable tickets so I'm shitting bricks. Haven't got photos and other docs ready for the kids yet. I bet at the airport they're going to be weird even with kids who have UK passports. What if uninformed staff are like "why do your kids have American accents? Where were they born? What are you doing here?" Etc. Fully expecting a bizarre catch-22 situation.
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
I think you're right, it's going to be a shit show regardless
Forsaken-Brain682@reddit
Hey, what type of person did you find to be countersignatory for your kids passports? Apparently we need a professional who knows them and they have to write specific statement on their photos and sign them AND we need to photocopy that person's passport! Who the bloody hell has time for all this?
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
Their godfather. Or godless father as I call him. my school friend. He's in sales and a manager which apparently was enough. Hmm I didn't need the photocopy .... I just gave his details after getting him to agree to vouch for us and then send him a link. If he actually had to send or scan a passport I would be amazed. The inconsistency is mad - but also what a bloody faff
Forsaken-Brain682@reddit
Didnt he need to sign hard copies of photos of your children? The gov site says they have to writre "i signify that this is a true likeness of [child]".
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
Yeah he did that all online.... I basically nominated him on the portal and then he got an email notification to go online and do that. Not quite sure what his experience was but he text me to say all done like 40 minutes after I sent to him. Then we got the notification that it was time to send our personal documents in via the mail
Forsaken-Brain682@reddit
I'm confused. Was this not a first time passport for kids? First time passport requires physical photos, not digital. Based on the gov website they need to ve signed by hand, not digitally.
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
I might get them rejected but I had the option of uploading photos digitally for first time passports
Forsaken-Brain682@reddit
Weird. Okay. I'll have to try it.
ablivion@reddit
Good luck, they should process and email you back within a few days
someguy984@reddit
Post 1983 births are automatically citizens by operation of law at birth. Before 1983 births to British mothers would require a UKM registration and citizenship ceremony. This is not required for British father's children.
AussieaussieKman@reddit
You dont automatically get US citizenship if your parents are from US so no it’s not the same
ablivion@reddit
It is right to preface this with "normally this is sufficient", but with our government unfortunately it is not.
It should be this simple (and for the French government, in my case, it is this simple to just provide 1 parents passport information). But the British government can and will demand an excessive amount of additional documents.
Our first child they needed all 4 grandparents birth certificates.
Our second child, they rejected these documents and demanded additional explanation and documentation. It took a pissed off call from me and a letter from the Commonwealth office to rectify the situation.
I agree though, it is common sense to acquire and enter on the passport of your nationality.
Mysterious-Art8838@reddit
That’s nuts. I can’t even produce one gp birth certificate. And only one is still alive (over 100 and no way she knows where it is). That’s a huge ask.
y_if@reddit
It’s grandparents of the child, not the parents
ablivion@reddit
My dad is from Zimbabwe, complete luck we still have the 1 copy of his available.
ElDjee@reddit
the government announced this last may. it's wild that so many people are freaking out about it now.
tobu-ieuan@reddit
Why does it surprise you that people who live on other sides of the world, where the UK isn't spoken about much or important, aren't up to date with UK immigration policy? Especially when it has been widely criticised due to their piss poor communication strategy for this.
If you were born in the UK and were quickly moved to somewhere like Australia or NZ and you grew up without ever having any connection or care for your birthplace, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's insane you are denied even transiting through the UK en route elsewhere after 40 years of never thinking about the fact you are a citizen. In their mind, they are Australian. They leave Australia on their Australian passport, and have only ever held an Australian passport for their entire life - it's absolutely logical they might conclude they can travel to the UK on their Australian passport.
Fuck me, the lack of general empathy and awareness of how abstract dual citizenship is to many people is astounding on this topic. They should at least make renunciation of UK citizenship free of charge to compensate for this requirement.
Countess_ofDumbarton@reddit
Totally agree. I am Canadian, have been for over 50 years. Educated, worked and am now retired.
The UK is the place I was born. I wouldn't recognize my cousins if I walked into them.
And now to find out my adult children are British?
Total cash grab to raise funds. There are over 460,000 Canadians affected by this. Now add in your Australian and NZ numbers? Millions.
Our parents emigrated to start a new life, not claim multiple citizenships for future generations.
AussieaussieKman@reddit
Wild lol what the actual fuck this guy has his head up his own ass. I’m in the exact situation you described and now forced to buy a passport that i don’t want. Because my dad happen to be born in the UK. I should can my trip but id be down 10k for business class airfares.
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
Counter point. More than 10 local and global consumer watchdog, travel and advocacy groups have criticised both the means of communication and the clarity around what are seismic changes.
Not to mention, dual nationals often have a completely new life outside the UK and as a result aren't poring over local news reports or the home office website. I get dozens of emails about how to file my tax returns every single year. Number of emails about this? Zero
Particular-Gap-9411@reddit
I was born in the UK to an Irish mother, emigrated to the US and got citizenship and then moved to Canada, where I am just a Permanent Resident. I had previously only travelled on my US passport and let my UK one lapse. These changes forced me to recently renew my UK one which solves my problem. However, I have a Canadian born son whose birth was never registered in the UK who is now caught up in this. His options are to register his birth and get a UK passport or register on Ireland's FBR and get an Irish passport (which is his preferred option because of national representation in his sport). Will the UK allow him entry on an Irish passport or will they insist he has a UK one?
PeteGabitas@reddit
Fly to Ireland and get the ferry over. Super lax. And if you want to extra careful get the ferry from the north. No border crossing within Ireland and you'll be in the UK then
AussieaussieKman@reddit
I’m unsure if im a British citizen , my parents are both born there but immigrated to australia in the 1960’s and im a 70’s child. I applied for an ETA and got it does that mean im not a dual citizen …… confused
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
As I understand it you're a British citizen - for one the ETA rule doesn't kick in until February 25th, for two you're probably highlighting what a lot of people are saying 'how do they (the gov) know in cases where your birth wasn't registered with the UK government'. Go to the home office and search 'check if I'm a British citizen', there's a bunch of info you can see which aligns to you
_spiritlevel@reddit
It's completely stupid that your kids who weren't born in the UK or have never lived there should have to get a British passport to go there.
joan2468@reddit
They are British citizens by birthright because they have a British parent. Therefore as a British citizen, they now need to enter the UK on a British passport. What exactly is “completely stupid” about that? Many other countries have similar requirements, the UK has been the outlier
AussieaussieKman@reddit
Not many countries automatically grant you citizenship based on your parents status that you have to pay to opt out from….. money grab
AdStriking2594@reddit
I'm in Aus, my sister has a new born and we're flying back to the UK in just over a week. Got the new born it's Australia passport just in time, but only just now realising may need UK one too. It's only a couple of months old, this is annoying.
Is there an option? All I can see is people critiquing you for not applying for a passport.
Historical-Plan-3757@reddit
We are in the same boat and the only option we have is to try, so I’m not sure where that leaves us. Our child’s passport application is in, we have all the documents, her ETA was approved prior (and still active). They won’t let you apply for anything else because kids haven’t had passports before.
It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few days, but it looks like the British government is doubling down.
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
Haha, yeah that's just Reddit being Reddit. I knew when I posted it would attract these sort of comments, but also thought it might be helpful.
To answer your question, though, I haven't heard anything definitive. It seems like they are officially stating there will be no leniancy at the airport. But then there has been softer language like '*may* be denied entry' and 'could face delays'.
My suspicion is that it might take a bit longer, but you'll be okay and they'll exercise some leniency in the early days. Unfortunately, that's based on nothing more than a hunch, and there's no way of knowing until the day you fly.
The fact you have no options whatsoever other than just to go for it, I would apply for the ETA before Feb 26th (it's not prohibited to do this before then), then just go through, present the travel docs you have and hope they either don't even check, or if they realize your kiddo is a dual citizen, claim ignorance and hope they are reasonable.
VisKopen@reddit
We are EU citizens and our youngest is also a UK citizen. When returning from a family trip in Europe they always run your settled status as well as that of your kids. Their settled status is attached to either parent's settled status and you need to bring the correct passport for them to look it up.
If they are UK citizens they cannot have settled status so if you are a UK citizen and travel with only an EU passport to the UK you will have a problem as you can't show a UK passport nor prove your settled status. I'm sure that in the end you could get it sorted, but you don't want to spend hours at immigration, especially not with young kids.
Travelling with a British passport to the EU is easier because you just get it stamped and make sure you leave within 90 days.
Statcat2017@reddit
So if you're an EU / UK dual national you have to choose between either travelling as a UK citizen and having 90 days in Europe, which is contravention to your rights as an EU citizen, or travel as an EU citizen and be faced with refusal at the UK border when you try and return?
VisKopen@reddit
If you are an EU/UK dual national you will always travel both as a UK and EU citizen as you cannot leave your nationality at home. You can choose what passports you bring and how much trouble you get yourself in, which is why it's best to bring both passports.
If you arrive in the UK without a British passport they will want to lookup your immigration status which they will be unable to do as you won't have an immigration status. I don't know what the next step is because I'm not an immigration expert, but I imagine that under certain conditions you will be refused entry and your next bet would be trying to explain the situation and proving your UK citizenship. Let's say you do convince the immigration officers I imagine you could easily be stuck at the airport for hours and if that happens with young children whilst you're already sleep deprived then you're not going to have a good idea.
If you travel with a British passport to the EU your passport will get stamped. If you then leave within 90 days you won't have any issues, but if you leave after more than 90 days you will have problems if you try to reenter later with that same passport and don't have an EU passport on you.
Either way, you don't want to find out and should just bring both passports.
Statcat2017@reddit
Bringing both passports makes sense.
flogpt@reddit
Glad my wife finally got her UK passport after Brexit. As she was born in Germany (1983, Cornish Mum, German Dad) , as far as I know she didn't automatically pass citizenship on to the kids.
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
Yeah I think it only passes down one generation so born outside the country, while she was British, her/your kids wouldn't be, assuming they weren't born in the uk
NarrowAd277@reddit
How would this work if you’re adopting, I wonder? My partner and I can’t have children biologically(we’d both always planned on adopting anyway) and we’d always said once we’re married we’d each adopt dual citizenship. Would this then mean any adopted child would receive dual citizenship automatically or is this going to become even more convoluted?
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
I feel like adoption is a scenario that is mentioned on the home office site... Don't quote me on it but might be worth either calling or digging through the nightmare that is the HO website (search something like "check if I'm a British citizen")
Hannahchiro@reddit
To be fair, this has been the case since the ETA first came in, nothing has actually changed. Dual citizens were never supposed to use the ETA and it has always said that in the rules/instructions. But because it was new they were just terrible at enforcing it - that's is what is changing from Feb 25th. I feel terrible for those who have not considered it necessary to get their kids UK passports, but it is what it is sadly. (Also you don't have to register their birth, you can just apply for their passport directly).
SandBrave6960@reddit
I’ve read your response, but I want to add that during our ETA application process in March, 2025 it asked about citizenship of another country. I was granted an ETA on my Canadian passport in 2025 and entered UK three times without issue.
At no point did it indicate that dual UK/Canadian citizens would need to enter with a British passport starting in Feb 2026 and the ETA was supposed to be valid for two years. The new regulations were very poorly advertised and have caught both travellers and travel agents by surprise. Yes, the info for dual citizens was on the gov.uk website but on the fourth page of a document that began with rules for entering UK as a foreigner.
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
Yeah, we last flew to the UK Dec 2024, so hadn't needed the ETA at the time and honestly wasn't aware of any changes until a few months ago, I was chatting with a fellow expat and he told me broadly about the changes, but all I needed was an ETA for the kids, and my British passport for me (which I have). I foolishly took him at his word rather than double checking his work.
It wasn't until all the articles about how terribly the government has communicated this started popping up on 'Brits in the US' style groups I'm in, being shared by other people similarly panicking about upcoming trips that I realised the kids might be a problem for this trip
Beautiful-Wind5091@reddit
super helpful info, thanks for sharing!
alexayer1@reddit
Wow, it's so true! I think a lot of people just assume it’ll be easy, but it’s a bit of a wake-up call when you realize the registration part is super important. Thanks for sharing this info!
Unable_Tumbleweed364@reddit
Yeah, I'm an Aussie in the U.S. and my kids are dual but also my eldest could get a British passport. We haven't done it yet but it was on the list so it's not a big deal. Glad I found out before we would be going though.
Responsible-Usual316@reddit
Wow, thanks for sharing this info! It’s definitely a heads-up for those of us juggling dual citizenship and kids. I never realized how much the rules could shift - definitely adds a bit of stress to the travel planning!
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
No problems! The amount of us that are just more discovering this via social media (I made a post on FB last week and it felt like half the Brits in the USA group replied with their own questions) made me think I could probably put it on here and it would help people too.
Far_Promotion181@reddit
I am in the same boat as you. I didn't even know this was a thing until I read about it in the news this morning. I moved to Sweden in my twenties and now have British/Swedish citizenship.
I've always renewed my British passport so it is no biggie for me but my two kids are going to have to get British passports now because they're automatically considered British citizens (I too thought this would be something you'd need to apply for).
Luckily there's no summer trip back to the UK planned this year so I don't need to stress over it but it just feels pointless. My kids mum can get into the UK with an ETA and her Swedish passport but they need to have two passports because their dad is British.
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
Yep exactly the same boat! But that's exactly it, when you see people smugly saying 'i can't believe you didn't know' but there are so many of us that only discovered the changes on FB, or via a BBC article in the past month - hence me making this post!
(Also, if it wasn't for my kids, I'd have no problems - I always take both passports whenever I travel. It's just the kid/automatic citizenship factor that skews things.)
ElPsyKongr0o_@reddit
Re: UK passport wait time, I applied to renew my British passport earlier this month from the US. Sent them the required documents via UPS International Express, which took two days to arrive. Despite them saying it would take roughly four weeks to receive my new passport, it arrived about 10 days later by DHL. So from the online application to having it in hand, it took around two weeks. I know yours aren't renewals but just wanted to post my timeframe experience in case it helps at all.
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
Thank you for this information!
jumersmith@reddit
I have UK citizenship through my father (UK national born to American military parents off base) but I am US born, so one of the ancestral pass downs that you're talking about. My parents didn't register any of us with the UK and we have all fixed that since we became adults.
The UKVI told me that my children who are US born do not have automatic citizenship, but they could gain citizenship down the line if we moved over. Do we know if that means I need to file the paperwork if we came over for a visit?
OP, I hope the passports get to you in time!
lindseycchallis@reddit
There is a difference between automatic citizenship (mostly when you're born in the UK) and can automatically apply for citizenship
https://www.gov.uk/check-british-citizenship
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
Yeah my understanding was that my kids were automatically guaranteed citizenship *upon application/registration*. Whereas in fact my kids were automatically citizens the moment they were born.
That's what landed me in this fine mess.
yahumno@reddit
I’m in this situation, as an adult.
I was born before 1983, my parents were married and my dad was still a UK citizen.
We have a trip to the UK booked for April. Cue me scrambling to get my UK passport for the first time.
Smart_Decision_1496@reddit
Indeed. The bottom line is if you qualify for a British passport you must essentially get it if you want to travel to Britain.
saollesimone@reddit
Unless you're also an Irish citizen and traveling on that passport instead.
Smart_Decision_1496@reddit
Indeed.
lil-smartie@reddit
About to cause the same issues in the EU when their ESTA comes into play later this year. Our daughter was born in the US & had US & UK passports, I've always been entitled to an Irish one, only useful now due to Brexit & so going through the process for our daughter too at 17. Don't feel bad, it wasn't needed or useful until it was!
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
That last line is absolutely on point!
formerlyfed@reddit
A bit beside the point but why does the post end with “I need you to brush your teeth first. You want to dress up.” Were you voice-to-texting or is it related to the post haha
xpltvdeleted@reddit (OP)
Hahahaha jesus. Yep. 4 year old trying to get out the door for a princess party 😅😅😅
hmtk1976@reddit
So... people just assume things and are surprised when something happens that they should have known.
I hope you get this sorted out without too much hassle.
FinestTreesInDa7Seas@reddit
I'm in the same situation as your kids. I'm 40, and my Dad was born in London, and my parents were legally married at the time of my birth, so I have automatic citizenship in the UK.
I have held a UK passport since my early 20s. Now I need to make sure to keep that UK passport from expiring, because I can't travel to the UK without it.