Two more British teenagers stranded abroad over new UK passport rules
After a British schoolgirl was left stranded in Denmark earlier this week, another two teenagers have found themselves unable to get back to the UK.
Hanne, a dual British-Norwegian national, was stopped from boarding a Norwegian Airlines flight from Copenhagen to London because she did not have a British passport, as reported by The Guardian.
This looks likely to be a real problem for anyone with dual nationality in the UK in the coming months, after new Home Office border rules were brought in last month.
What does it mean to be a dual national?
This occurs when someone holds citizenship in two different countries, likely due to their parents, being born in a different country or through marriage.
People who have lived in a different country for an extended period of time can also apply for citizenship in most cases, but it can take several years in some countries.
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This is obviously an attractive proposition for many, especially when it comes to having a different passport to the UK one, allowing you to skip those pesky queues that even Brits have managed to hate since the Brexit deal was done.
However, the Home Office has now changed the rules for British dual nationals forever, something which a lot of people aren't too happy with.
New Home Office border rules on British dual nationals
You've always needed a passport of some kind to get into the UK, whereas EU nationals can use their IDs in other countries.
However, now British citizens will have to present either a UK passport or a certificate of entitlement to airlines before boarding flights to the UK.
Naturally, with the rules having only been introduced last month, more and more people are going to be tripped up by this, with two more teenagers now at risk of missing a vital period at school after falling foul of the rules.
Why are British teenagers stranded abroad?
While Hanne has already missed two weeks of school ahead of crucial GCSE exams, two more teenagers are now stranded abroad.
Rosemary (not her real name), told The Guardian about Anna's* perils, after the 19-year-old university student found herself stuck in Spain because of her secondary French nationality.
She said: “It’s like they have brought in a new law and not considered the time people needed to get passports and to change their status ahead of upcoming changes in the rules. It’s just not right. It’s crazy that a little bit of leeway is not allowed.
“She has her British birth certificate with her and photos of both her parents’ British passports and proof of residence in the UK. We are extremely concerned, as you can imagine.”
Another 18-year-old, who is a British-Danish national, is struggling to leave India, which has left her parents feeling extremely concerned.
Her mother said: “She couldn’t leave the airport as she had no visa to find accommodation. She was very, very scared."
She had travelled before the rule changed, but has now been stung by the changes following her attempted return.
They certainly won't be the last to struggle with the new rules, so it might be worth applying for a new passport or certificate of entitlement if you fall under the category of a dual national without what you currently need.
James Moorhouse