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Dual citizenship travel question

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2022 7:08 pm
by davidgezar
Hi all,

So my wife has dual citizenship, she had to travel to Australia to visit her family, the UK passport did not arrive on time so she exited the UK with her Australian passport. The next day her UK passport arrived but unfortunately too late. My question is, when she returns to the UK, can she enter with her Australian passport or will that be a problem as she is also a UK citizen? Has anyone experienced this before?

Re: Dual citizenship travel question

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2022 10:26 pm
by alterhase58
Australians don't need a visa to visit so from that perspective should be fine - so no issue boarding the return flight - just my general take, not from personal experience. though plenty of people are facing the same issue. It might be useful to take with her an old expired UK Passport and/or the naturalisation/registration certificate if she has one. Note that British citizens have automatic "right of abode" in the UK and can't be refused entry, though it may take extra time to explain at the UK border. At least she could get the visa stamp in the Australian passport - no immigration offence as Brits are not under immigration control.
NB. You could perhaps courier the British passport to her?

Re: Dual citizenship travel question

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2022 11:35 am
by davidgezar
Thanks @alterhase58

She actually did take her expired UK passport as HMPO first sent back her expired passport by cutting the edge of the cover. Since she has right of abode, hopefully she can show her Australian and expired UK passport at immigration in the UK. I guess I can also take her new UK passport with me to the airport when she arrives and somehow request the airport staff to take it to her. It would be great to know if anyone has experienced something similar. Otherwise my last option is to courier it to her.