Asked by: Ben Coleman (Labour - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of British dual nationals who have been refused boarding or otherwise prevented from travelling to the UK since February 2026 as a result of pre-departure documentation requirements.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
There are a range of reasons why a British dual national may have been denied boarding; however, there is no single data set held.
Asked by: Ben Coleman (Labour - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to introduce discretion, exemptions or transitional arrangements within the Electronic Travel Authorisation system and carrier liability framework to prevent cases of hardship among British dual nationals.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We recognise that the enforcement of ETAs by carriers is a significant change, and so we have taken steps including the provision of additional temporary guidance on possible alternative documentation, and have put in place around the clock support for carriers to respond to these changes. The Member may wish to refer to the Written Ministerial Statement issued on 25 February for further detail. Individuals who have previously had a British passport can apply for an emergency travel document if they urgently need to enter the UK. That notwithstanding, to minimise the risk of disruption, we would always encourage British nationals to travel on a valid British passport where able.
Asked by: Ben Coleman (Labour - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what provisions are in place for British dual nationals to demonstrate their right of abode under the Immigration Act 1971 in urgent or compassionate circumstances where they do not hold a valid UK passport or certificate of entitlement.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We recognise that the enforcement of ETAs by carriers is a significant change, and so we have taken steps including the provision of additional temporary guidance on possible alternative documentation, and have put in place around the clock support for carriers to respond to these changes. The Member may wish to refer to the Written Ministerial Statement issued on 25 February for further detail. Individuals who have previously had a British passport can apply for an emergency travel document if they urgently need to enter the UK. That notwithstanding, to minimise the risk of disruption, we would always encourage British nationals to travel on a valid British passport where able.
Asked by: Ben Coleman (Labour - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that British citizens exercising their right of abode are not prevented from returning to the UK due to carrier enforcement of pre-departure checks.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We recognise that the enforcement of ETAs by carriers is a significant change, and so we have taken steps including the provision of additional temporary guidance on possible alternative documentation, and have put in place around the clock support for carriers to respond to these changes. The Member may wish to refer to the Written Ministerial Statement issued on 25 February for further detail. Individuals who have previously had a British passport can apply for an emergency travel document if they urgently need to enter the UK. That notwithstanding, to minimise the risk of disruption, we would always encourage British nationals to travel on a valid British passport where able.
Asked by: Ben Coleman (Labour - Chelsea and Fulham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the impact on British dual nationals of the operation of the carrier liability scheme, as expanded under section 76 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, in requiring proof of permission to travel prior to boarding for the UK.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Section 76 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 expands the carriers liability scheme to cover the requirement to hold an electronic travel authorisation (ETA). British nationals (including dual nationals) are not eligible for an ETA and therefore their travel is not in scope for this penalty. We recognise that the enforcement of permission to travel checks will impact on dual nationals and have taken steps including the provision of additional temporary guidance on possible alternative documentation, and have put in place around the clock support for carriers to respond to these changes. This is a proportionate change to enable dual nationals to prove their right of abode in the UK.