Australian family of four facing ‘uneasy wait’ for new UK passports

New United Kingdom entry laws are causing headaches for Australians with “confusing” regulations leaving families in limbo and relatives “terrified” of losing personal documentation in the process.

From last week, Australians who are dual citizens of the UK or Ireland will now need a valid UK passport — or a certificate of entitlement — to enter the country, even if they have an Australian passport.

Gemma — a dual Australian and UK citizen — and her family have a holiday booked to the UK and Sweden in just a few months, but the much-anticipated trip to visit relatives is becoming a “nightmare”.

Her two children, who hold British citizenship by descent, now require UK passports to enter the country.

The recent changes to the rules have left her uneasy with the month-long family trip planned for July.

She sent the children’s passports and other documents to the UK in January as part of a UK passport application, which cost around $400 altogether.

“I’m really uneasy now because after sending those passports overseas, we can’t travel anywhere while we wait,” she told SBS News.

“My children are essentially grounded until they send the documents back. And I’ve asked several times, and they’ve given no indication of how long this could take.”

Gemma says there’s been times she’s wished she hadn’t sent the documents. She’s considered cancelling the trip due to the stress and uncertainty.

The British High Commission confirmed to SBS News it has received a “significant volume of enquiries from British Australian dual citizens” in response to questions about the new UK entry laws.

“A substantial proportion of the enquiries have come from British citizens seeking clarity about whether their children born in Australia require a British passport, as well as from individuals whose previous British passports have expired,” they said.

Applicants applying for a UK passport from Australia can typically expect to receive their passport within four weeks, the commission said, unless further information or an identity interview is required.

“The four‑week timeframe begins when initial documents requested during the application process are received,” they said.

“A British passport is issued only once all checks to confirm nationality, identity and eligibility have been completed.”

What are the changes to UK entry?

British and Irish citizens now need a valid UK passport to enter the country.

This applies to Australian dual citizens, who previously could enter the country solely with their Australian passports and an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) — the standard visa to enter the UK for travel, business or transit.

The Australian government’s official travel advice service, Smartraveller, is advising that dual citizens are unable to obtain an ETA, warning that from Wednesday, Australian British or Australian Irish citizens may not be able to board their flight without a valid document.

Dual citizens are advised to obtain a new UK passport or a certificate of entitlement.

Passport application costs vary depending on which country one lives in, how urgently they need the passport and how frequently they travel — but standard costs for someone applying in Australia are £108 ($206) for an adult, and £70 ($134) for a child.

A certificate of entitlement is a digital document added to a valid passport that confirms a UK citizen has the right to live or work in the country without restrictions, and carries a fee of £482 ($920).

A third option is for dual citizens to renounce their UK citizenship, which costs £589 ($1,124).

‘Terrified’ documents have been lost

Gemma is not only worried about whether the UK passports will be ready in time for her family’s holiday, but she is also concerned about the handling of the personal documents she has submitted.

She said she was also asked to send the original birth certificates and the marriage certificate of her children’s UK-born grandparents, to prove their British descent.

After her parents sent in those documents to the passport office, Gemma reached out to confirm they had been received, but was told they couldn’t be found.

“They said, ‘we’ve got no record of them’. So, I’ve had to send them the proof of delivery,” Gemma said.

“My parents are terrified they won’t get those documents back.”

If the new passports are rejected or don’t arrive in time, Gemma said she may attempt to fly to the UK anyway.

But it’s a “scary” prospect.

“We could get stopped at UK customs, and then I don’t know what can happen its not a nice thought.”

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