<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mass confusion over the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/uk-eta-dual-citizen-rule-expired-passport-loophole-explained/f67b643f-992d-4e6d-930e-997dfe3dcf20" rel="" target="_blank" title="United Kingdom's new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)"><span>United Kingdom's new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)</span></a><span> scheme and its impact on Australians with British ancestry has forced some Australian travellers to cancel trips abroad.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/uk-eta-passport-scheme-how-dual-citizens-have-been-impacted/884e44d6-d134-48f5-9281-b46e2c1818ca" rel="" target="_blank" title="Dual Australian-British citizens must now travel on their UK passport"><span>Dual Australian-British citizens must now travel on their UK passport</span></a><span> to visit England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales after the government updated its entry requirements.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The controversial new rules also means many Australians may unknowingly be a citizen of the UK if their parents were born in there or in a British territory.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Darwin couple Jessica and Steven Sangster's long-awaited family holiday to visit elderly parents in Scotland was ruined over this murky rule change.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/debbie-kristenson-mother-ashes-missing-sydney/91eb63fb-a32e-4623-a46c-99034287bb28" rel="" target="_blank" title="Debbie was grieving her mum's sudden death. Then her ashes were stolen"><strong><span>Debbie was grieving her mum's sudden death. Then her ashes were stolen</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Do you have a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter April Glover at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:april.glover@nine.com.au" target="" title="april.glover@nine.com.au"><em><strong><span>april.glover@nine.com.au</span></strong></em></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Steven was born in Australia in 1977, but his father was born in Scotland and returned there to live, making Steven an automatic British citizen by descent.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/uk-eta-rules-family-scotland-trip-ruined/6ea6d79b-6e43-4adc-9507-d2b80096cbdf" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The family had saved for years to visit his elderly and unwell parents this month, but were forced to cancel over the "messy" passport guidelines.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's been a mess, very stressful and distressing," Jessica told Nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Steven has been back to the UK as a kid to visit family, but has never held his own UK passport.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He's always travelled on his Australian passport."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Sangsters had booked their tickets, applied for their ETAs and were ready to fly this month when they began reading about the impact on dual citizens and those with </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/uk-eta-for-australian-2026-travel-rules-changes-dual-citizen-passport-requirements/6d415761-bdea-4d26-8aa5-35baf5cda026" rel="" target="" title="automatic British citizenship."><span>automatic British citizenship.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After it dawned on them that Steven may be an automatic British citizen, the couple attempted to contact UK authorities for clarity.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Every time, they were simply referred to the </span><a href="https://www.gov.uk/" rel="" target="_blank" title="gov.uk"><span>gov.uk</span></a><span> website.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The UK government has guidelines on its website for how to check if you are British citizen.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It states that you may already be a citizen if you were born outside of the UK to a British father before January 1, 1983.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Steven falls into this category.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But there's no specific or individualised scenario information given. They don't give that advice at all," Jessica said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/reserve-bank-makes-call-on-the-future-of-cash-during-meeting/fe4b931b-d830-48ee-97aa-d37df86f6184" rel="" target="_blank" title="Huge call over future of cash made amid fears over 'cashless society'"><strong><span>Huge call over future of cash made amid fears over 'cashless society'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/not-so-grey-nomads-max-and-duncan-cancer-diagnosis-during-australia-road-trip/40ca16ad-c8f3-4539-832e-45b1c40bba01" target="_blank" title="Max and Duncan sold everything to become nomads. Then came a grim diagnosis"><strong><span>Max and Duncan sold everything to become nomads. Then came a grim diagnosis</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A UK Home Office spokesperson previously confirmed that automatic citizenship does not need to be "claimed", provided conditions are met at birth.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Since British citizens cannot use an ETA, dual nationals, including children who hold dual citizenship by descent, but who may never have held a British passport, must now travel using a valid UK passport or a certificate of entitlement," the spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This requirement reflects the UK's updated border processes rather than a change in their citizenship status."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia's Smartraveller advice also notes that "British citizenship by descent is automatic if you meet the conditions".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This means you don't need to apply for citizenship to be considered a citizen," the advice reads.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/downsizing-costs-why-stamp-duty-moving-expenses-agent-fees-are-stopping-homeowners-explained/973605d4-c526-4a1c-aa19-715eddc12aef" target="_blank" title="The $78k fee stopping cashed-up baby boomers from selling up"><strong><span>The $78k fee stopping cashed-up baby boomers from selling up</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As Steven has never had a valid British passport, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/uk-eta-dual-citizen-rule-expired-passport-loophole-explained/f67b643f-992d-4e6d-930e-997dfe3dcf20" rel="" target="_blank" title="the loophole allowing some travellers to board flights with an expired passport"><span>the loophole allowing some travellers to board flights with an expired passport</span></a><span> won't help him.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>With their flight to the UK nearing and no definitive answers, they made the tough decision to cancel their trip altogether.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The next step is trying to apply for a British passport, which Jessica described as a "logistical nightmare".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We came to the conclusion that the turnaround of trying to get all the required information was not going to happen," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"With his parents nearing 80, the requirement to get the UK passport is that they need to send their original birth certificate and marriage certificate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"So they're very nervous to send that all the way to us in Australia."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Steven among tens of thousands of Australians who have been left in the dark over their presumed citizenship status in the UK.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The couple are asking the very same question many dual citizens have raised.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Why has it been forced on us?" she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a 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