Aberdeenshire family's holiday 'nightmare' as new travel rule leaves them stranded in Europe
Sarah Rodgers and husband Philipp on holiday with daughters Lily and Heidi(Image: UGC)An Aberdeenshire family have endured a nightmare ending to their holiday after their Scots-born baby was barred from travelling home to the UK because of new travel rules.Sarah Rodgers, 30, and her husband Philipp, 34, from Ellon, were left horrified when they attempted to return home from Alicante in Spain.The family were told at the boarding gate that their 11-month-old daughter Lily did not have the correct documentation to travel back from their sunshine break.Now the couple, also parents to three-year-old Heidi, are issuing a warning to other holidaymakers after being caught out by the new Border Rules for dual British Nationals, which were introduced just weeks ago, reports the Daily Record.The family now fear they could remain stuck in Europe for several months while they wait for Lily, who was born and lives permanently in the UK but holds an Austrian EU passport, to be approved for a British passport.With Lily ineligible for emergency documents or a fast track passport application and unable to afford hotels, they were forced to fly from Spain to Austria, where Philipp is from, to wait out the process.The family have endured a nightmare end to their holiday(Image: UGC)Speaking to our sister title, Sarah told the Record of their "nightmare" experience in a bid to spare other families in similar circumstances from going through the same ordeal.She said: "It’s just a ridiculous situation in my opinion. We just want to share it in case it can help other people."When we went on holiday we had absolutely no idea that we wouldn’t be able to return home."My husband has stayed with us just now to find out what’s happening but he can’t stay here for weeks because he has to go to work."No one we speak to can give us any answers, or any help in getting home. We have been passed from person to person, around each department and not received much help at all."The family flew out to Alicante from Aberdeen on April 23.Entry requirements for dual British nationals were overhauled from February 25 as part of the roll out of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, a major immigration reform that require visitors to the UK who do not have a visa, to apply for an entry document before arriving.The family, who had not yet applied for a British passport for Lily, went ahead with their trip believing she could travel on her European passport.The family flew to Alicante last month(Image: UGC)Sarah said: "When we booked the flight it said if you are not British you’ll need an ETA to return to the UK, but as we are British we thought that didn’t apply to us."It was only when we were about to board the flight home we found out. Our luggage was already on the flight, they scanned my boarding card and said ‘you can’t board because your baby doesn’t have the right documentation’."Her Austrian passport has her place of birth written on it, and also states it was issued to her from the UK. But they said that is not proof enough."They removed our luggage and we had to go and pick it up from lost property. It was really stressful. It was 6pm."They told us to go to the help desk. We were there for two hours. They phoned the Home Office but we were still not allowed to travel so they said we had to go back into the city and go to the British embassy."My older daughter also flew on an Austrian passport and they told her she could return home because she has had a British passport."Electronics engineer Philip remained in Spain with Heidi so they could try and fix the problem, but has work commitments at home.The family paid £180 for a one night stay in Alicante but, after visiting the embassy, they were stunned to learn they could be stranded for more than 10 weeks.Sarah said: "The embassy told us (Lily) can not enter the UK without a British passport or an emergency travel document. She was declined for an emergency document."They said it wasn’t an emergency. They said the timeline to send me the travel documents was unlimited."The family say Lily is not eligible to apply for an ETA as she is a UK citizen and they have also explored the option of travelling to Ireland in the hope she will be allowed to enter and travel onwards from there, but this might not be allowed.Lily and Heidi are dual UK and Austrian nationals(Image: UGC)Sarah said: "We realised we were going to be stuck in Europe for a long period of time so we booked a direct flight to Austria where we knew we could stray with someone for free and not have to pay hotels."It’s impossible to get through to the British embassy in Austria. We’ve applied for her passport but I read it could take ten weeks plus an additional four weeks if they need more info."There is no fast track option for a baby who hasn’t had a British passport before. They needed original documents, which are at home, so the registry office in Aberdeen have helped us and sent them direct to the passport office."Sarah also fears if Lily’s passport application is not approved within 90 day she will fall foul of EU travel rules.She said: "We’re lucky because we have someone we can stay with in Austria but if we didn’t it would be totally unaffordable and you’d be stuck in a city you don’t know."We were fully aware of the new ETA rules for EU nationals entering the UK but our child is a UK citizen by decent, living in the UK, and she has been denied access to return back home."The UK Government is failing their own citizen and has left us stranded abroad with no quick or easy way home."A Home Office spokeswoman said: "From 25 February 2026, all dual British citizens need to present either a valid British passport or Certificate of Entitlement when travelling to the UK."Without one, carriers cannot verify British citizenship, which may lead to delays or refused boarding."Public information advising dual nationals to carry the correct documentation has been available since October 2024, with a substantive communications campaign on the introduction of ETA has been running since 2023."This requirement applies to all British citizens, regardless of other nationality, taking the same approach as other countries including the United States, Canada and Australia."
