• Denying a UK citizen entry to the UK

    From Jethro@jethro_UK@hotmailbin.com to uk.legal.moderated on Tue Feb 17 14:41:23 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    Sounds like it could be a thing. Prelude to scrapping dual citizenship ?

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2d9yk2kpjo

    Under the existing rules, a dual national is able to travel to the UK
    using a passport issued by a second country - but from 25 February that
    will no longer be the case.

    Instead, they will need to show either a British passport, or a document called a certificate of entitlement - and without one of them, they could
    face being denied the right to travel back to the UK.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jon Ribbens@jon+usenet@unequivocal.eu to uk.legal.moderated on Tue Feb 17 16:25:17 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 2026-02-17, Jethro <jethro_UK@hotmailbin.com> wrote:
    Sounds like it could be a thing. Prelude to scrapping dual citizenship ?

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2d9yk2kpjo

    Under the existing rules, a dual national is able to travel to the UK
    using a passport issued by a second country - but from 25 February that
    will no longer be the case.

    Instead, they will need to show either a British passport, or a document called a certificate of entitlement - and without one of them, they could face being denied the right to travel back to the UK.

    Denying entry and denying aircraft boarding aren't the same thing.

    I don't see any reason to think that this has anything to do with
    "scrapping dual citizenship", whatever that might mean.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jethro@jethro_UK@hotmailbin.com to uk.legal.moderated on Tue Feb 17 16:15:02 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:41:23 +0000, Jethro wrote:

    Sounds like it could be a thing. Prelude to scrapping dual citizenship ?

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2d9yk2kpjo

    Under the existing rules, a dual national is able to travel to the UK
    using a passport issued by a second country - but from 25 February that
    will no longer be the case.

    Instead, they will need to show either a British passport, or a document called a certificate of entitlement - and without one of them, they
    could face being denied the right to travel back to the UK.

    Just to answer these "dramatic" changes only apply to passemgers of
    carriers. You can still enter the UK without a passport as a UK citizen.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Norman Wells@hex@unseen.ac.am to uk.legal.moderated on Tue Feb 17 16:21:09 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 17/02/2026 14:41, Jethro wrote:
    Sounds like it could be a thing. Prelude to scrapping dual citizenship ?

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2d9yk2kpjo

    Under the existing rules, a dual national is able to travel to the UK
    using a passport issued by a second country - but from 25 February that
    will no longer be the case.

    Instead, they will need to show either a British passport, or a document called a certificate of entitlement - and without one of them, they could face being denied the right to travel back to the UK.

    That's if they say they're coming back to live and work here presumably.
    If a dual national just presents a second country passport, and does
    not claim to be coming here just as a tourist, how are the immigration authorities to know he or she has British citizenship and is entitled to
    live and work here?

    If such people want the convenience of dual British nationality, they
    can and should obtain a UK passport and stop being so entitled.


    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From John Levine@johnl@taugh.com to uk.legal.moderated on Tue Feb 17 19:46:36 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    According to Jethro <jethro_UK@hotmailbin.com>:
    Instead, they will need to show either a British passport, or a document >called a certificate of entitlement - and without one of them, they could >face being denied the right to travel back to the UK.

    FWIW the United States has always had this rule. If you are a US
    citizen you must use a US passport (or passport-like document) to
    enter the US, regardless of what other passports you have.

    Unlike a lot of other US travel rules, I don't recall anyone ever saying
    that one is unreasonable.
    --
    Regards,
    John Levine, johnl@taugh.com, Primary Perpetrator of "The Internet for Dummies",
    Please consider the environment before reading this e-mail. https://jl.ly

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jon Ribbens@jon+usenet@unequivocal.eu to uk.legal.moderated on Tue Feb 17 20:08:14 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 2026-02-17, John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> wrote:
    According to Jethro <jethro_UK@hotmailbin.com>:
    Instead, they will need to show either a British passport, or a document >>called a certificate of entitlement - and without one of them, they could >>face being denied the right to travel back to the UK.

    FWIW the United States has always had this rule. If you are a US
    citizen you must use a US passport (or passport-like document) to
    enter the US, regardless of what other passports you have.

    Unlike a lot of other US travel rules, I don't recall anyone ever saying
    that one is unreasonable.

    I don't recall anyone saying this UK rule is unreasonable either
    - just the fact that it's changing suddenly and without adequate
    notice. I'd heard nothing about it until today, for example.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Clive Page@usenet@page2.eu to uk.legal.moderated on Tue Feb 17 21:06:00 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 17/02/2026 19:46, John Levine wrote:
    According to Jethro <jethro_UK@hotmailbin.com>:
    Instead, they will need to show either a British passport, or a document
    called a certificate of entitlement - and without one of them, they could
    face being denied the right to travel back to the UK.

    FWIW the United States has always had this rule. If you are a US
    citizen you must use a US passport (or passport-like document) to
    enter the US, regardless of what other passports you have.

    Unlike a lot of other US travel rules, I don't recall anyone ever saying
    that one is unreasonable.

    A member of my family who many years ago had passports from the UK and
    another country said that it was then the rule that you had to use the
    UK passport when entering/leaving the UK. I don't think I've ever been
    aware of this and if it is indeed a rule then it doesn't appear to be
    widely known.

    But as an earlier respondent said: if you turn up at the UK border with
    a valid foreign passport how on earth are the UK border staff to know
    that you actually have UK citizenship as well, unless you tell them?
    --
    Clive Page


    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From John Levine@johnl@taugh.com to uk.legal.moderated on Tue Feb 17 23:56:26 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    According to Clive Page <usenet@page2.eu>:
    But as an earlier respondent said: if you turn up at the UK border with
    a valid foreign passport how on earth are the UK border staff to know
    that you actually have UK citizenship as well, unless you tell them?

    It is my impression that the various border agencies talk to each other a
    lot and often tell each other when someone gets an additional passport.

    I realize not always, if you have a Russian passport they're not going
    to be talking to the UK, but EU countries probably still do.
    --
    Regards,
    John Levine, johnl@taugh.com, Primary Perpetrator of "The Internet for Dummies",
    Please consider the environment before reading this e-mail. https://jl.ly

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Pamela@uklm@permabulator.33mail.com to uk.legal.moderated on Wed Feb 18 11:40:27 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 14:41 17 Feb 2026, Jethro said:

    Sounds like it could be a thing. Prelude to scrapping dual
    citizenship ?

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2d9yk2kpjo

    Under the existing rules, a dual national is able to travel to the UK
    using a passport issued by a second country - but from 25 February
    that will no longer be the case.

    Instead, they will need to show either a British passport, or a
    document called a certificate of entitlement - and without one of
    them, they could face being denied the right to travel back to the
    UK.


    Dual citizenship strikes me as a means of confering privileges not
    being granted to those with only single citizenship.

    Furthermore, it seems those collecting these privileges can hold almost as many citizenships as they can obtain. It doesn't sound very equitable.

    There are cases (albeit unusual) of individuals who hold eight
    citizenships. It sounds somewhat dodgy.


    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Nick Odell@nickodell49@yahoo.ca to uk.legal.moderated on Wed Feb 18 14:31:47 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:40:27 GMT, Pamela
    <uklm@permabulator.33mail.com> wrote:

    On 14:41 17 Feb 2026, Jethro said:

    Sounds like it could be a thing. Prelude to scrapping dual
    citizenship ?

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2d9yk2kpjo

    Under the existing rules, a dual national is able to travel to the UK
    using a passport issued by a second country - but from 25 February
    that will no longer be the case.

    Instead, they will need to show either a British passport, or a
    document called a certificate of entitlement - and without one of
    them, they could face being denied the right to travel back to the
    UK.


    Dual citizenship strikes me as a means of confering privileges not
    being granted to those with only single citizenship.

    Furthermore, it seems those collecting these privileges can hold almost as >many citizenships as they can obtain. It doesn't sound very equitable.

    There are cases (albeit unusual) of individuals who hold eight
    citizenships. It sounds somewhat dodgy.

    It's called Multiple Citizenship and it's definitely "a thing" as it
    has it's own Wikipedia entry <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_citizenship>

    I come across a lot of these people on forums set up for foreigners
    living abroad and the numbers actively doing this are increasing all
    the time.

    Apart from birthright citizenships, some people treat seeing how many citizenships they can claim as a hobby or a game; others see a second citizenship as a solution to a particular problem - witness the number
    of fighting-age Russians who are going to extraordinary lengths to
    become citizens of somewhere else - and others, as you have
    referenced, as a tax dodge.

    To be fair, many other countries have always insisted that a holder of
    multiple citizenships present the national passport of the country
    they are entering, if they hold one. The USA is one that makes that stipulation, though my dual-USA/Canadian-citizen-by-birth
    Daughter-in-Law[1] says that in practice they don't seem to bother
    very much - at least not at the border crossings she uses.

    I think requiring UK passport holders to show a UK passport when
    entering the UK is a very uncontroversial thing. The problem is that
    the change seems to have hidden under the radar for so long that it's
    taken many UK passport holders living abroad by surprise.

    Nick
    [1]She was actually born in The Netherlands to an American mother and
    a Canadian father but at the time her parents would have had to
    renounce one or other of her blood citizenships to claim the Dutch one
    for her

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From JNugent@JNugent73@mail.com to uk.legal.moderated on Wed Feb 18 13:36:51 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 18/02/2026 11:40 am, Pamela wrote:
    On 14:41 17 Feb 2026, Jethro said:

    Sounds like it could be a thing. Prelude to scrapping dual
    citizenship ?

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2d9yk2kpjo

    Under the existing rules, a dual national is able to travel to the UK
    using a passport issued by a second country - but from 25 February
    that will no longer be the case.

    Instead, they will need to show either a British passport, or a
    document called a certificate of entitlement - and without one of
    them, they could face being denied the right to travel back to the
    UK.


    Dual citizenship strikes me as a means of confering privileges not
    being granted to those with only single citizenship.

    Furthermore, it seems those collecting these privileges can hold almost as many citizenships as they can obtain. It doesn't sound very equitable.

    There are cases (albeit unusual) of individuals who hold eight
    citizenships. It sounds somewhat dodgy.

    What is dodgy about it?

    Applicants don't have to be rich, but they have to demonstrate either a genetic link to the country (such as American-born children of a British citizen who lives in the States) or a longstanding residence and
    commitment to it.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Adam Funk@a24061a@ducksburg.com to uk.legal.moderated on Thu Feb 19 12:37:35 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 2026-02-17, Jon Ribbens wrote:

    On 2026-02-17, John Levine <johnl@taugh.com> wrote:
    According to Jethro <jethro_UK@hotmailbin.com>:
    Instead, they will need to show either a British passport, or a document >>>called a certificate of entitlement - and without one of them, they could >>>face being denied the right to travel back to the UK.

    FWIW the United States has always had this rule. If you are a US
    citizen you must use a US passport (or passport-like document) to
    enter the US, regardless of what other passports you have.

    Unlike a lot of other US travel rules, I don't recall anyone ever saying
    that one is unreasonable.

    I don't recall anyone saying this UK rule is unreasonable either
    - just the fact that it's changing suddenly and without adequate
    notice. I'd heard nothing about it until today, for example.

    I heard about it last week, I think. The complaints seem to be along
    these lines:

    1. I've lived in Australia for decades and stopped paying for British
    passport renewals. I've retired and I want to visit my relatives in
    the UK at least one more time before I die. Now they spring this
    extra hassle on me. (I don't have the source --- that's from
    memory.)

    2. 'I, a Belgian citizen, have worked in the UK for 32 years. My
    rCLsettled statusrCY now allows me to travel freely between the UK and
    Belgium using my EU passport. A few years ago, I applied for
    British citizenship because I was uncertain whether my
    rCLentitlementrCY to live and work in the UK would be maintained after
    Brexit, and because I wanted to vote in the UK. I have not yet
    applied for a British passport because I would have to submit my
    Belgian one for an unknown length of time, which might prevent me
    from visiting my ailing 96-year-old father in Brussels.'

    <https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/18/when-dual-nationality-leads-to-double-trouble>

    The naturalization process requires you to mail in your foreign
    passport (at your own risk, I think!); since the Home Office has
    already seen it once, and presumably scanned it into their records, it
    is completely stupid to require it to be sent in again for a
    passport. Alternatively, they should be able to generate the passport
    in the same process as the naturalization.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Pamela@uklm@permabulator.33mail.com to uk.legal.moderated on Thu Feb 19 12:52:28 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 13:36 18 Feb 2026, JNugent said:
    On 18/02/2026 11:40 am, Pamela wrote:
    On 14:41 17 Feb 2026, Jethro said:

    Sounds like it could be a thing. Prelude to scrapping dual
    citizenship ?

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2d9yk2kpjo

    Under the existing rules, a dual national is able to travel to the
    UK using a passport issued by a second country - but from 25
    February that will no longer be the case.

    Instead, they will need to show either a British passport, or a
    document called a certificate of entitlement - and without one of
    them, they could face being denied the right to travel back to the
    UK.


    Dual citizenship strikes me as a means of confering privileges not
    being granted to those with only single citizenship.

    Furthermore, it seems those collecting these privileges can hold
    almost as many citizenships as they can obtain. It doesn't sound
    very equitable.

    There are cases (albeit unusual) of individuals who hold eight
    citizenships. It sounds somewhat dodgy.

    What is dodgy about it?

    Applicants don't have to be rich, but they have to demonstrate either
    a genetic link to the country (such as American-born children of a
    British citizen who lives in the States) or a longstanding residence
    and commitment to it.

    Holding eight citizenships seems to offer oportunities for some very
    creative tax planning.

    It's not inherently illegal, just as offshore investments are not, but
    it provides the opportunity of cover for those who choose illegal
    financial arrangements. The Panama Papers and Pandora Papers document
    leaks revealed what some people got up to by using multiple
    jurisdictions.

    In addition, holding eight citizens ships might also offer an undue
    bolthole for when someone's financial scam gets uncovered.

    Call me old fashioned but it seems strange to grant citizenship just
    because a person has some particular connection with a country. In all
    but the most complex cases, someone should commit to only one country
    and its laws & privileges. This view may go against the fashion for
    globalism with no borders but that arrangment may not last for ever.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Adam Funk@a24061a@ducksburg.com to uk.legal.moderated on Thu Feb 19 16:07:06 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    I've just come across a few more articles on the subject.

    <https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/19/dual-nationals-expired-uk-passports-prove-british-home-office>

    British dual nationals may be able to use expired UK passports to
    prove to airlines they are British when controversial new
    immigration rules come into force, the Home Office has said.
    ...
    In a statement on Thursday, the Home Office said airline carriers
    could, rCLat their own discretionrCY accept an rCLexpired British
    passport as alternative documentrCY. This would be in addition to the
    valid foreign passport that would be sufficient were it not for the
    new rules.

    But "at their own discretion" is the catch.


    <https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/16/border-rules-dual-nationals-discriminatory-women-passport-names-campaigners-say>

    Campaigners say it will pose particular problems for some women in
    Greece and Spain who took out citizenship after Brexit because of
    British rules requiring names to exactly match on the UK and second
    passports.

    (They also mention the problem for secret dual nationals in Spain.)

    I've never heard of Border Force asking whether people with a UK
    passport have another one, never mind demanding to see it. IMO it's
    none of their business.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jon Ribbens@jon+usenet@unequivocal.eu to uk.legal.moderated on Thu Feb 19 16:19:50 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 2026-02-19, Adam Funk <a24061a@ducksburg.com> wrote:
    I've just come across a few more articles on the subject.

    <https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/19/dual-nationals-expired-uk-passports-prove-british-home-office>

    British dual nationals may be able to use expired UK passports to
    prove to airlines they are British when controversial new
    immigration rules come into force, the Home Office has said.
    ...
    In a statement on Thursday, the Home Office said airline carriers
    could, rCLat their own discretionrCY accept an rCLexpired British
    passport as alternative documentrCY. This would be in addition to the
    valid foreign passport that would be sufficient were it not for the
    new rules.

    But "at their own discretion" is the catch.

    It's also a bit odd - what does it mean? Carrying *any* passenger is at
    the discretion of the airline. The only question is whether they are at
    risk of getting fined for bringing in someone who didn't have the right
    to come here. So can the airline get fined for carrying someone with an
    expired UK passport, or can it not get fined?

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Nick Finnigan@nix@genie.co.uk to uk.legal.moderated on Thu Feb 19 16:40:16 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 19/02/2026 12:52, Pamela wrote:

    Call me old fashioned but it seems strange to grant citizenship just
    because a person has some particular connection with a country. In all
    but the most complex cases, someone should commit to only one country
    and its laws & privileges.

    (Northern) Ireland ?


    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jethro@jethro_UK@hotmailbin.com to uk.legal.moderated on Thu Feb 19 16:19:18 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:52:28 +0000, Pamela wrote:

    On 13:36 18 Feb 2026, JNugent said:
    [quoted text muted]

    Holding eight citizenships seems to offer oportunities for some very
    creative tax planning.

    A lot depends on how regimes reconcile residence and citizenship.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Sam Plusnet@not@home.com to uk.legal.moderated on Thu Feb 19 18:20:11 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 19/02/2026 16:19, Jon Ribbens wrote:
    On 2026-02-19, Adam Funk <a24061a@ducksburg.com> wrote:
    I've just come across a few more articles on the subject.

    <https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/19/dual-nationals-expired-uk-passports-prove-british-home-office>

    British dual nationals may be able to use expired UK passports to
    prove to airlines they are British when controversial new
    immigration rules come into force, the Home Office has said.
    ...
    In a statement on Thursday, the Home Office said airline carriers
    could, rCLat their own discretionrCY accept an rCLexpired British
    passport as alternative documentrCY. This would be in addition to the
    valid foreign passport that would be sufficient were it not for the
    new rules.

    But "at their own discretion" is the catch.

    It's also a bit odd - what does it mean? Carrying *any* passenger is at
    the discretion of the airline. The only question is whether they are at
    risk of getting fined for bringing in someone who didn't have the right
    to come here. So can the airline get fined for carrying someone with an expired UK passport, or can it not get fined?

    Maybe? Is there any incentive for HMG to give a definitive answer now,
    rather than let it play out and see what happens?
    --
    Sam Plusnet

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jon Ribbens@jon+usenet@unequivocal.eu to uk.legal.moderated on Thu Feb 19 18:51:13 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 2026-02-19, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:
    On 19/02/2026 16:19, Jon Ribbens wrote:
    On 2026-02-19, Adam Funk <a24061a@ducksburg.com> wrote:
    I've just come across a few more articles on the subject.

    <https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/19/dual-nationals-expired-uk-passports-prove-british-home-office>

    British dual nationals may be able to use expired UK passports to
    prove to airlines they are British when controversial new
    immigration rules come into force, the Home Office has said.
    ...
    In a statement on Thursday, the Home Office said airline carriers
    could, rCLat their own discretionrCY accept an rCLexpired British
    passport as alternative documentrCY. This would be in addition to the >>> valid foreign passport that would be sufficient were it not for the
    new rules.

    But "at their own discretion" is the catch.

    It's also a bit odd - what does it mean? Carrying *any* passenger is at
    the discretion of the airline. The only question is whether they are at
    risk of getting fined for bringing in someone who didn't have the right
    to come here. So can the airline get fined for carrying someone with an
    expired UK passport, or can it not get fined?

    Maybe? Is there any incentive for HMG to give a definitive answer now, rather than let it play out and see what happens?

    Yes, in that generally speaking you're not allowed to fine people for
    things that you haven't told them in advance they can get fined for.
    It's one of those "yoomin rites" so hated by the far right.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Sam Plusnet@not@home.com to uk.legal.moderated on Fri Feb 20 19:03:33 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.legal.moderated

    On 20/02/2026 13:33, Max Demian wrote:
    On 19/02/2026 18:20, Sam Plusnet wrote:
    On 19/02/2026 16:19, Jon Ribbens wrote:
    On 2026-02-19, Adam Funk <a24061a@ducksburg.com> wrote:
    I've just come across a few more articles on the subject.

    <https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/19/dual-nationals-
    expired-uk-passports-prove-british-home-office>

    -a-a-a British dual nationals may be able to use expired UK passports to >>>> -a-a-a prove to airlines they are British when controversial new
    -a-a-a immigration rules come into force, the Home Office has said.
    -a-a-a ...
    -a-a-a In a statement on Thursday, the Home Office said airline carriers >>>> -a-a-a could, rCLat their own discretionrCY accept an rCLexpired British >>>> -a-a-a passport as alternative documentrCY. This would be in addition to the
    -a-a-a valid foreign passport that would be sufficient were it not for the >>>> -a-a-a new rules.

    But "at their own discretion" is the catch.

    It's also a bit odd - what does it mean? Carrying *any* passenger is at
    the discretion of the airline. The only question is whether they are at
    risk of getting fined for bringing in someone who didn't have the right
    to come here. So can the airline get fined for carrying someone with an
    expired UK passport, or can it not get fined?

    Maybe?-a Is there any incentive for HMG to give a definitive answer
    now, rather than let it play out and see what happens?

    "His Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State Requests and requires in the Name of His Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary"

    This is in *addition" to our right to travel the world wherever we
    please, without any German style "Papiere, bitte".

    I'm quite certain that HMG does not think that applies to them.
    Since they make the laws, I expect their view to prevail.
    --
    Sam Plusnet

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2