A Scottish mother has been left stranded overseas after her 11-month-old baby was denied boarding on a flight to the United Kingdom because of documentation requirements affecting dual nationals.

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Sarah Schloegl, from Aberdeen, said airline staff prevented her baby from boarding a Ryanair flight from Alicante last week after officials determined the child lacked the documentation now required for entry to the UK.

Schloegl had travelled to Spain for a short holiday with her Austrian husband, Philipp, and their two children — a three-year-old and an 11-month-old baby.

Baby barred from flight in Spain

Under rules introduced in February, British citizens who also hold another nationality must present either a British passport or a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode when travelling to the UK by air, rail or ferry. The certificate currently costs £589.

Schloegl said she was unaware of the requirement until she reached the departure gate. Her husband, who holds settled status in the UK after Brexit, and their older child, who has both Austrian and British passports, were allowed to board. Their baby, who only carried an Austrian passport, was refused.

“I feel it’s ridiculous,” Schloegl said, noting that the child was born in Scotland and lives in the UK. “My baby was born in the UK and lives there, but she’s not allowed to enter the country even though I’m British.”

Concerns over communication of new rules

Schloegl said she had followed news about travel rules but believed authorities should have provided clearer warnings at airports and on airline websites before the change took effect.

She said the first indication of the policy came when airline staff informed the family at the departure gate.

Campaigners say Schloegl’s experience is not unique. Hundreds of dual nationals have reportedly contacted advocacy groups in recent months complaining that the requirement was not widely publicised.

Monique Hawkins, head of policy and advocacy at the campaign group the3million, said the case raised concerns about how the rules were being applied.

“The Home Office said they would take a compassionate and pragmatic approach to travellers who experience genuine difficulty,” she said. “We cannot see the compassion in refusing boarding to an 11-month baby.”

The Home Office has previously rejected criticism that the change was poorly communicated, saying details were published on the government’s website.

Family seeks temporary solution abroad

At Alicante airport, Schloegl said airline ground staff attempted to help the family find a solution. Airport officials contacted UK authorities while Schloegl obtained a scanned copy of the baby’s birth certificate from the registry office in Scotland.

She said the document confirmed the child was born in the UK and that the Austrian passport had been issued by the Austrian embassy in Britain. However, officials reportedly told airline staff the evidence did not meet the entry requirements.

Schloegl was also unable to obtain emergency travel documents for the child. According to the Home Office, such documents are generally issued only to travellers who have previously held a passport, though some exceptions exist for urgent circumstances such as medical emergencies or attending a close relative’s funeral.

Facing the possibility of a delay lasting several months, the family decided to stay temporarily in Austria with relatives while they attempt to resolve the issue.

Advocacy group the3million has written to the UK’s European affairs minister, Nick Thomas-Symonds, and to European Commission official Maroš Šefčovič, urging action to address the situation of dual-national children whose parents hold British citizenship or settled status.

The group has called for provisions of the Brexit withdrawal agreement to cover children who automatically acquire dual nationality at birth.

An Austrian embassy spokesperson said officials were aware of the case and that the embassy in London was in contact with the family and UK authorities to explore ways to speed up a resolution.

The UK Home Office declined to comment on the individual case but said information advising dual nationals about the documentation requirement had been available on its website since October 2024. It added that a wider communications campaign about the new Electronic Travel Authorisation system had been running since 2023.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 7 May 2026

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No problem, just use a dingy to cross the channel.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

the document confirmed the child was born in the UK

So why didn't mother get a UK passport after birth or at least before leaving UK?

Especially since the UK does not have universal unconditional birthright citizenship.

A child born in the UK is only automatically a British citizen if at least one parent is a British citizen or settled in the UK (e.g., holds indefinite leave to remain) at the time of birth. Born-in-the-UK status alone is insufficient.

She tried board flight with "no" passport. So, typical to be rejected. Airline does not have to accept her "gentleman's word" that baby has passport somewhere else, perhaps at home or on moon maybe. In this case, nobody would ever bother carry one 😂

Actually airline may be censured by government for doing that. Or even prosecuted. At best, liable to pay for deportation flight.

So do this and one can be " stranded abroad" but actually in country of citizenship and in house of family...

To read closely mother does not claim baby ever had British passport, so her demand is even more than just board flight with no passport. Actually it is allow Austrian government or her personally decide who is and is not UK citizen, with UK itself not allow "vote". So, Sir Starmer sure to agree 😂

20 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

So why didn't mother get a UK passport after birth or at least before leaving UK?

Especially since the UK does not have universal unconditional birthright citizenship.

A child born in the UK is only automatically a British citizen if at least one parent is a British citizen or settled in the UK (e.g., holds indefinite leave to remain) at the time of birth. Born-in-the-UK status alone is insufficient.

The child is a British citizen, which is the issue. If it would have been only Austrian, it could enter the UK without issues.

Just now, stevenl said:

The child is a British citizen, which is the issue. If it would have been only Austrian, it could enter the UK without issues.

Very likely not true as Austrian citizen can also enter UK, just only for visit and not for permanent residence.

Issue here is mother asserted right (entry for permanent residence) with no document whatsoever, and then tried to make lawyer argument to airline that document "would have been" issued had she applied for document, which she did not.

So indeed, effect is to allow airline, foreign government, or just random person issue UK citizenship without UK government to have say.

6 minutes ago, klaikangwon said:

She tried board flight with "no" passport

Not true, the baby had an Austrian passport.

1 minute ago, stevenl said:

Not true, the baby had an Austrian passport.

Yes baby had foreign passport. But cause of this dispute almost certainly the stated reason was entry to reside, and Austrian passport does not give that right. So for purpose claimed, no passport.

1 minute ago, klaikangwon said:

Very likely not true as Austrian citizen can also enter UK, just only for visit and not for permanent residence.

Issue here is mother asserted right (entry for permanent residence) with no document whatsoever, and then tried to make lawyer argument to airline that document "would have been" issued had she applied for document, which she did not.

So indeed, effect is to allow airline, foreign government, or just random person issue UK citizenship without UK government to have say.

No, you're wrong. Issue is the child has dual nationality, and is thus required to have UK passport. Were it only Austrian national, it could have entered the UK.

1 minute ago, stevenl said:

No, you're wrong. Issue is the child has dual nationality, and is thus required to have UK passport. Were it only Austrian national, it could have entered the UK.

Since Brexit, Austrian can only enter UK without visa for 90 day or 180 day non-employment visit. But clear intent of family was to return "home" and stay. Family traveled abroad without first ensuring they had passports for all members for country of residence, maybe remembering pre-Brexit situation. What happened is sad somehow, but certainly not incorrect.

Should have said they were Muslims, but baby too white to be allowed entry to the UK.

Meanwhile,

I've been waiting 2 months for a new UK passport (renewal), passport office claims they're overwhelmed with applications. So I'm also trapped in Thailand.

Edited May 7May 7 by BritManToo

Should have said baby is to attend Scotch whiskey tasting evening, then return to Austria for bier festival, which is allowed by the passport rules.

Fair enough. Absolutely right decision.

Follow the laws is essential for a society.

Stupidity doesn't pay. 😂🥳👍🤗

53 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

So why didn't mother get a UK passport after birth or at least before leaving UK?

Especially since the UK does not have universal unconditional birthright citizenship.

A child born in the UK is only automatically a British citizen if at least one parent is a British citizen or settled in the UK (e.g., holds indefinite leave to remain) at the time of birth. Born-in-the-UK status alone is insufficient.

That's irrelevant. No required documents....no entry. As everywhere.

1 minute ago, newbee2022 said:

That's irrelevant. No required documents....no entry. As everywhere.

Except for Muslims, who can enter any western country with no documents of any kind.

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Except for Muslims, who can enter any western country with no documents of any kind.

Only....if they know the most important word on the whole world to enter the paradise...it's.......asylum😂

Mother's fault even though it appears to be a minor issue by comparison with Britain's appalling lack of immigration/border control.

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Should have said they were Muslims, but baby too white to be allowed entry to the UK.

Meanwhile,

I've been waiting 2 months for a new UK passport (renewal), passport office claims they're overwhelmed with applications. So I'm also trapped in Thailand.

It amazes me that the mother government of so many countries can be this confused

4 hours ago, Srikcir said:

So why didn't mother get a UK passport after birth or at least before leaving UK?

Especially since the UK does not have universal unconditional birthright citizenship.

A child born in the UK is only automatically a British citizen if at least one parent is a British citizen or settled in the UK (e.g., holds indefinite leave to remain) at the time of birth. Born-in-the-UK status alone is insufficient.

The child’s mother is British, the child was born in the UK.

UK recently passed those ridiculous restrictions on entry..for Brits. No effect whatsoever on 'security'.

4 hours ago, klaikangwon said:

Very likely not true as Austrian citizen can also enter UK, just only for visit and not for permanent residence.

Issue here is mother asserted right (entry for permanent residence) with no document whatsoever, and then tried to make lawyer argument to airline that document "would have been" issued had she applied for document, which she did not.

So indeed, effect is to allow airline, foreign government, or just random person issue UK citizenship without UK government to have say.

You are literally saying you don't know the new rules.

It's BECAUSE the baby is a British citizen that it wasn't allowed to enter the UK with it's Austrian passport.

If it had been an Austrian baby without dual nationality, it would have been allowed on the plane. (Assuming they'd paid for the ETA that EU nationals coming to the UK now have to do.)

19 minutes ago, bkk_mike said:

You are literally saying you don't know the new rules.

It's BECAUSE the baby is a British citizen that it wasn't allowed to enter the UK with it's Austrian passport.

If it had been an Austrian baby without dual nationality, it would have been allowed on the plane. (Assuming they'd paid for the ETA that EU nationals coming to the UK now have to do.)

Just as you are always allow on plane without any Visa to Thailand ?

Or no, only where Thai authorities likely to admit, as with everyone. Austrian without visa entering UK to permanently reside is strictly breach of UK conditions, which is reason for UK ""rule"". Austrian who turned up with no visa and told border guard he plan to live in UK for next 17 years or more (so until baby is adult) would be rejected, and deported at airline cost.

32 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The child’s mother is British, the child was born in the UK.

Which means child is eligible for British Passport, but not child can fly anywhere without British Passport but with "theoretical passport". Just as adult British person with ancestors to Richard Lionheart also cannot fly without even applying for passport.

34 minutes ago, klaikangwon said:

Which means child is eligible for British Passport, but not child can fly anywhere without British Passport but with "theoretical passport". Just as adult British person with ancestors to Richard Lionheart also cannot fly without even applying for passport.

It's not that easy to get a British passport these days though.

More than 2 months and I still don't have a replacement, nor any sign of a replacement.

So how long would it take a baby to get one?

Perhaps of course UK government is incompetent. This is other things. But like saying, well maybe Thai immigration can take bribdes (I don't know... just hypothetical idea...) therefore it OK to illegally immigrate to Thailand across Mekong river, and if caught by Thai police, police should apologize to "suspect" for starting this dispute. Well.

15 hours ago, klaikangwon said:

Just as you are always allow on plane without any Visa to Thailand ?

Or no, only where Thai authorities likely to admit, as with everyone. Austrian without visa entering UK to permanently reside is strictly breach of UK conditions, which is reason for UK ""rule"". Austrian who turned up with no visa and told border guard he plan to live in UK for next 17 years or more (so until baby is adult) would be rejected, and deported at airline cost.

I've flown to Thailand dozens of times without a visa. So have millions of others.

Edited May 7May 7 by emptypockets

4 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

I've flown to Thailand dozens of times without a visa. So have millions of others.

My friend buys 1 way tickets. Never been asked for return.

16 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

My friend buys 1 way tickets. Never been asked for return.

You have a friend?

22 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Should have said they were Muslims, but baby too white to be allowed entry to the UK.

Meanwhile,

I've been waiting 2 months for a new UK passport (renewal), passport office claims they're overwhelmed with applications. So I'm also trapped in Thailand.

Do what I did - jump on a plane to the UK to collect your new passport in-person.

Mind you, plane ticket prices have probably gone through the roof.....

17 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Do what I did - jump on a plane to the UK to collect your new passport in-person.

Mind you, plane ticket prices have probably gone through the roof.....

Last time I did that, but currently tickets are expensive and many flights are being cancelled with slow (or no) refunds. Anyway, this'll likely be my last passport, I can endure it once.

Edited May 8May 8 by BritManToo