A Scottish mother and her infant baby are stranded in Spain after being denied boarding on a Ryanair flight due to new UK dual nationality rules implemented by the Home Office. The policy, which took effect in February, requires dual citizens to present a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode—costing £589—if they travel on a non-UK passport.
Family Left Stranded in Alicante
Sarah Schloegl, from Aberdeen, was unable to board a Ryanair flight from Alicante to the UK with her 11-month-old daughter. The baby, who holds both British and Austrian nationality, was refused boarding because she did not have the required document. The family now remains stuck in Spain.
Under the revised rules, airlines are obligated to deny boarding to dual citizens who present only their second nationality's passport, closing a long-standing loophole that allowed them to use visa-waiver privileges. Officials argue that treating all British citizens uniformly simplifies carrier checks once Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs) become mandatory for 85 visa-exempt countries.
Criticism of Poor Communication
Campaign groups, including The 3million and British in Europe, have condemned the policy as poorly communicated and disproportionately affecting mixed-nationality families. Monique Hawkins, head of policy and advocacy at the3million, stated: 'The Home Office said they would take a compassionate and pragmatic approach to travellers who experience genuine difficulty. We cannot see the compassion in refusing boarding to an 11-month baby.'
Schloegl expressed her frustration: 'I do feel this is ridiculous because my baby was born in the UK, lives in the UK, but she’s not allowed to enter the UK, even with me, her mum, who is British. I’m from Scotland, our two kids were both born in Scotland, my parents, grandparents are all from Scotland and my husband has settled status.' She added that the family contacted the registry office in Scotland, which sent a scanned copy of the baby’s birth certificate and proof that her Austrian passport was issued by the Austrian embassy in the UK. However, the Home Office reportedly told Ryanair that the documents were insufficient.
The incident has sparked concerns about the impact on families and the lack of clear guidance from authorities. The Foreign Office has also placed a country on its 'do not travel' list, warning UK tourists of potential risks, including kidnapping.
