Scottish Family Stranded: New UK Dual Nationality Rules Cause Chaos

A British woman from Aberdeen, Sarah Schloegl, has been left stranded in Spain after her 11-month-old baby was denied boarding on a Ryanair flight due to new dual nationality rules.

The family, including Schloegl's Austrian husband, Philipp, their three-year-old daughter, and the baby, had traveled to Spain for a short break. However, the new regulations, implemented in February, require British dual nationals to present a British passport or a certificate of entitlement of abode, costing £589, when traveling to the UK.

Schloegl, unaware of the change, believes the Home Office should have publicized the new rules more effectively, such as through posters in airports and on airline websites. She only learned of the requirement at the departure gate in Alicante, where her older child and husband were allowed to board, but the baby was refused.

"It's ridiculous," Schloegl said. "My baby was born and lives in the UK, but she's not allowed to enter with me, her British mother." She emphasized the impact on children and young people with dual nationality.

Hundreds of others have shared similar experiences with the Guardian, criticizing the Home Office's communication. The immigration minister, Mike Tapp, has dismissed these concerns as "absurd." Monique Hawkins, from the campaign group the3million, highlighted the lack of compassion in refusing an 11-month-old baby.

While the Home Office claims the information was available on gov.uk, dual nationals argue that the website is not widely consulted. Schloegl was aware of the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) due to its prominent display on airline websites, but the dual nationality rule was not similarly publicized.

The family's situation is not unique; many Britons living abroad have missed important family events due to the rule change. Schloegl's attempts to resolve the issue at the airport were unsuccessful, and she was denied emergency travel documents for her baby. The family is now camping out in Austria, awaiting a resolution.

The3million group has taken action, writing to the European affairs minister and the European Commission, seeking a solution for dual national children of those with settled status. They advocate for the Brexit withdrawal agreement to cover children who become dual British nationals at birth due to a parent's British or settled status.