A 16-year-old student from Sussex remains stuck in Denmark, unable to return home to the UK, following a dispute over documentation under recently adjusted border regulations. The teenager, who holds British citizenship, was prevented from boarding a return flight from Copenhagen earlier this month because she did not possess a valid British passport.
The student had travelled to Denmark with her mother for a family visit. While her mother, a Norwegian national, was permitted to check in for the flight, the airline refused boarding for the daughter, citing new requirements for dual nationals. The family states they were unaware of the rule change, which mandates that British dual nationals must present a British passport or a specific certificate of entitlement to board transport to the UK.
The situation has left the GCSE student missing crucial weeks of schooling ahead of important exams. Her local MP has criticised the handling of the changes, stating the “chaotic” implementation has caused significant distress and stranded numerous citizens abroad in difficult circumstances. The MP has called for urgent government intervention to provide a swift and affordable solution for those affected.
In a further complication, the family claims the Passport Office has indicated the teenager’s existing passport application, made before travel, may now be cancelled because she is overseas. They have been told a new application from abroad could take up to six weeks to process.
Legal experts have raised concerns about whether the authorities’ approach adequately considers the welfare of children, as required by law. They argue that while carriers must verify nationality, the current guidance creates disproportionate hardship, especially for young people with a clear right to reside in the UK.
The student’s school has written to officials, emphasising the detrimental impact on her education. Her mother has had to make an additional trip to ferry school materials to Denmark so lessons can continue remotely.
A government spokesperson stated that information advising dual nationals to travel with appropriate UK documentation has been publicly available for some time. The guidance notes that airlines have discretion to accept expired British passports as proof of nationality.
