A 15-year-old British girl was stranded in Rome for six weeks after being refused permission to return to her UK school, after the Home Office rule requiring dual British nationals to hold a British passport or a “certificate of entitlement” to enter the country came into force in February.

The girl, who has dual nationality, was in Italy in April to visit her grandmother when she was prevented from boarding a flight home. Her father, Rowan Somerville, said she missed six weeks of education while the issue was resolved.

Passport rule blocks return for dual nationals

Under the policy, dual nationals risk being denied boarding of a flight, train or ferry if they do not present a British passport, whether current or expired, or a certificate of entitlement. The certificate, priced at £589, is linked to the passport of the person’s second nationality.

Somerville said the Home Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office were unable to help him secure a temporary document to allow his daughter to travel because she did not hold a British passport in the first place.

Her school wrote to government departments, saying it was increasingly concerned about her prolonged absence from education.

Emergency travel document issued in May

Somerville and his family then sought help through their local MP, Joe Powell. Powell said he made representations to the Home Office and the FCDO and that, in May, the FCDO issued the girl with an emergency travel document, allowing her to return to the UK.

Powell said the case was not unique, and urged the immigration minister, Mike Tapp, to ensure no other schoolchildren were left stranded by the rules. He said the policy changes were not communicated meaningfully to the public and that the outcome showed weaknesses in how government departments support people who fall through administrative gaps.

Powell said the girl had two valid passports and a British parent and had been in UK education since nursery. He added that the changes to the Home Office’s requirements left her stuck in Rome and missing six weeks of school.

Home Office says carriers must verify citizenship

Somerville described the process of getting his daughter the necessary British passport as prolonged and difficult. He said getting the passport took about three months, while the government website states it takes three weeks. He said the Passport Office’s front-line customer service staff were helpful, but added that he encountered what he described as bureaucratic obstacles once his complaint was escalated, including a call during which staff told him they could no longer speak to him because his daughter had turned 16.

The Home Office previously rejected claims that it had not informed the public about the rule change, saying information is available on gov.uk.

A Home Office spokesperson said Somerville’s daughter “was granted an emergency travel document in May, enabling them to return to the UK”, and added that the department remained in contact about a passport application. The spokesperson said that once information was received and checks were concluded, a passport was issued within eight days.

The spokesperson said that since February all dual British citizens have needed to present either a valid British passport or a certificate of entitlement when travelling to the UK, arguing that without the documents “carriers cannot verify British citizenship”, which may lead to delays or refused boarding.

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16 July 2026

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18 hours ago, webfact said:

Somerville described the process of getting his daughter the necessary British passport as prolonged and difficult. He said getting the passport took about three months, while the government website states it takes three weeks.

Waiting time doesn't matter, don't leave the UK without a British passport for re-entry form a foreign country regardless and the dual nationality.

So not just us Brits living in Thailand who suffer at the hands of completely and utterly pointless HMPO bureaucracy, then!

Should have sorted the paperwork before she left.

Kind of obvious, isn't it?

5 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Should have sorted the paperwork before she left.

Kind of obvious, isn't it?

Before this year you had the right of entry to the UK as a British citizen.

Change in law wasn't widely publicised, HMPO are currently overwhelmed with passport applications because of the change.

Sorry, it wasn't obvious at all.

Edited July 17Jul 17 by BritManToo

13 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Before this year you had the right of entry to the UK as a British citizen.

Change in law wasn't widely publicised, HMPO are currently overwhelmed with passport applications because of the change.

Sorry, it wasn't obvious at all.

But surely they would always have needed some proof of citizenship? Like a valid/expired passport, or the certificate or whatever?

Previously, they just took your word for it?

Couldn't she have just entered with one of her other two passports the article says she has, and sorted it out while in the UK?

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Powell said the girl had two valid passports and a British parent and had been in UK education since nursery.

1 minute ago, JonnyF said:

But surely they would always have needed some proof of citizenship? Like a valid/expired passport, or the certificate or whatever?

Previously, they just took your word for it?

Couldn't she have just entered with one of her other two passports the article says she has, and sorted it out while in the UK?

Entry with expired Brit passport before 2026 acceptable.

Entry with EU passport before and now acceptable

Claiming you are a Brit citizen to enter while having EU passport not acceptable.

Lesson to learn, never volunteer information to your government.

18 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Entry with expired Brit passport before 2026 acceptable.

Entry with EU passport before and now acceptable

Claiming you are a Brit citizen to enter while having EU passport not acceptable.

Lesson to learn, never volunteer information to your government.

OK, in fairness it does seem a bit complicated.

Probably easier arriving by small boat.

I'd have kept my mouth and got in whatever way I could. It's not like Britain ever deports anyone anyway. 😄

The Brexit bonuses just keep on coming.

You Quitters must be worn out with all this winning.

Oh for the days of unhindered entry into 28 nations without need to show passport.

I remember driving to Dover, before the “People’s Choice “, to board a ferry to Calais and realised I’d left my passport at home. I had all other documents and was waved onto the ferry. Those were the days.

I hope the young lady is catching up on the education she missed.

Parents could have got her a British passport a long long time before all this.

I'm amazed at how silly people are nowdays when it comes to international travel.

Why did she have to wait 6 weeks? I assume that she had an EU passport. Get on a plane to Dublin using the EU passport. Get a bus to Belfast, no border checks. Now she is in the UK so no passport needed. Works for illegals arriving in the ROI wanting to get to the UK. In theory id is required on a ferry to the UK but that can be a drivers licence or I assume the EU passport. The ferry check is not an Immigration check but for security only.

6 hours ago, JonnyF said:

OK, in fairness it does seem a bit complicated.

Probably easier arriving by small boat.

I'd have kept my mouth and got in whatever way I could. It's not like Britain ever deports anyone anyway. 😄

No just fly to Dublin then land border with no checks into Northern Ireland

Stupid parents who don't really care about their children's future!!! We registered our children at the Thai embassy shortly after their birth and received Thai birth certificates immediately, which we then used to apply for Thai passports for the children during our next holiday in Thailand.

This is not the Home Office's fault. It's dad's fault but he can't accept that.