Sarah Byron was taken aback to discover that her Canadian passport will soon be invalid for entry into the United Kingdom.
As a dual citizen of Britain and Canada residing in Montreal, who moved to Canada in the 1970s, she has consistently returned to England at least once a year. However, beginning on February 25, new U.K. regulations stipulate that all citizens must present either a British or Irish passport for entry.
“We were shocked; people couldn’t believe me,” Byron remarked, having let her British passport expire. “It’s going to be chaotic in March when individuals try to travel without being aware of this change.”
The entry requirements for dual citizens are being revised as part of wider modifications to the United Kingdom’s entry policies. This abrupt alteration, which was announced discreetly in the autumn, has surprised many citizens and left several feeling perplexed and irritated by the new rules.
Several U.K. Members of Parliament are requesting a grace period and cautioning that “poor communication” could potentially leave some travelers stranded overseas.
Dual citizens of the United Kingdom and Canada may encounter a new travel obstacle after the government mandated that they use a British or Irish passport for entry to the U.K. starting February 25. (CP)
If dual nationals lack a passport, they have two expensive alternatives: acquiring a certificate of entitlement, which confirms their right to reside in the U.K., or renouncing their citizenship. Both options can cost between $800 and over $1,000.
With the implementation of the new regulations, dual nationals like Byron face the risk of being denied entry if they do not possess a U.K. passport or a certificate of entitlement. She expressed that the modification — coupled with the insufficient communication surrounding it — has left her feeling unwelcome in the country of her upbringing.
“It feels terrible,” she admitted. “I can travel anywhere in the world with a Canadian passport except to the place where I was born.”
What is prompting the rule changes?
It remains uncertain how many individuals are affected, but Statistics Canada indicates that over 460,000 residents of Canada were born in the United Kingdom.
Additionally, children of individuals born in the U.K. may also be impacted, as British citizenship can sometimes be automatically inherited from a parent.
The updated passport regulations are associated with the recent introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) requirement for entering the U.K., which was established last year. This aligns the U.K. with similar entry systems in both the U.S. and Canada.
Rob Tinline, the British high commissioner to Canada, stated that the new regulations are part of the U.K.’s initiative to modernize its border policies and mirror those of other nations, including Canada. He encourages individuals to consult the U.K. government’s website for entry requirement information. (Patrick Louiseize/CBC)
Rob Tinline, the British high commissioner to Canada, noted that this shift is part of a move toward a digital immigration system designed to bolster border security.
“We want British citizens to visit the U.K., and we want Canadians to come as well. We do not wish to hinder that,” Tinline stated in an interview. “However, this is about modernizing our border system. It is akin to what Canada has implemented for its own citizens.”
Dual citizens of the United Kingdom and Canada may encounter a new travel hurdle after the government mandated that they use a British or Irish passport for entry to the U.K. starting February 25.
Canada mandates that dual citizens enter the country using a Canadian passport, except for dual citizens of Canada and the U.S., who can utilize a U.S. passport.
Tinline mentioned that most foreign visitors are required to have an ETA, and that U.K. and Irish citizens do not qualify. He encourages individuals to verify the information on the U.K. government website to ascertain the necessary documentation for entry.
“Clearly, this is a major change,” he acknowledged.
“We aim to make the system as straightforward as possible, and we want to ensure that message reaches people so they can comply correctly.”
Travelers caught off guard
Numerous dual citizens of Canada and Britain with impending travel plans are now rushing to renew or apply for U.K. passports.
Serina Bowles, a travel advisor in Burlington, Ont., with The Travel Agent Next Door, stated she is verifying with her clients to ensure they fulfill the requirements — including inquiring whether they have a parent born in the U.K.
“Nearly everyone I’ve spoken to is unaware of this new regulation,” she disclosed.
Bowles recounted that one of her clients, an elderly man in his 80s, now needs to obtain a British passport for the first time due to the updated rules.
Serina Bowles is a travel consultant in Burlington, Ont., with The Travel Agent Next Door. She is assisting clients in preparing for new entry regulations affecting dual citizens traveling to the U.K. (Submitted by Serina Bowles The Travel Agent Next Door)
She has been guiding travelers through the application process to ensure they do not encounter issues but anticipates disorder when the new rules come into effect on Wednesday.
Airlines have been instructed to confirm that travelers meet entry requirements before allowing them to board.
“Many travelers at the airport will show up only to be informed that they cannot board the plane,” Bowles cautioned.
The British Home Office stated on Thursday that airlines could “at their discretion” accept an expired passport as an alternative document, along with a valid foreign passport. However, this exception will not assist individuals who have recently applied for a British passport and have submitted their expired ones as part of that process.
‘Extremely discouraging’
For Byron, obtaining a new U.K. passport is becoming particularly challenging.
Her expired British passport includes her middle name, whereas her valid Canadian passport — along with her other Canadian documentation — does not.
According to the U.K.’s “one-name policy,” foreign nationals must ensure that their names are identical on both their foreign and British passports. If discrepancies exist in the names used, a passport application may be rejected.
Some dual nationals living abroad have claimed that the regulations are discriminatory, as some nations require women to retain their maiden names post-marriage. In Quebec, women are mandated to keep their maiden names on all legal documents.
Several dual citizens who communicated with CBC News shared that differing surnames or middle names are presenting additional complications.
Byron mentioned that she plans to reach out to the British government for assistance and is postponing her travel arrangements for the time being.
“I intend to wait until things stabilize,” she said. “It’s very discouraging.”