A British teenager is still stranded in Denmark three weeks after being denied boarding on a return flight to the UK.
Controversial changes to UK border rules for the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system in place from 25th February mean that British dual nationals can now only enter the UK if they have a valid British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement, which costs £589.
The 16-year-old schoolgirl, a dual British-Norwegian national, was left in Denmark because she was not allowed to board her Norwegian Air flight back to the UK on March 8th following a weekend visiting her father, a British academic working at a university in Copenhagen.
READ ALSO: Young British dual nationals barred from flights home over new passport rules
The girl has now been stranded there for three weeks, despite pleas for Home Office assistance from the parents, reports in The Times suggest.
Norwegian Air tells The Local that although the airline does not comment on individual cases it has followed all relevant protocol: "With regards to dual citizenship, our handling agents follow the rules set in Timatic, and the information there is in line with the latest travel requirements. Passengers, including those with dual citizenship, are personally responsible for obtaining all necessary travel documents and visas prior to travel, as stated in our General Conditions of Carriage".
The Home Office reportedly told The Times last week that it has finally intervened following requests from both the airline and the girl's school, yet the 16-year-old has not returned to the UK and is still stuck abroad despite applying for an emergency passport.
This follows news that two further British teenagers also fell foul of the rule change: a 19-year-old stuck in Madrid on a university trip, and a 18-year-old British-Danish national stranded in Mumbai.
READ ALSO: Can dual national Brits travel to UK without valid British passport after all?
The rule change has caused outrage among dual nationals, with one telling The Local it was "a money making racket" and another that that vague government guidance is "par for the course for the Home Office, which has been dysfunctional for as long as I can remember."
Under pressure the Home Office did soften rules slightly by saying Brits can prove the UK nationality using an out of date passport if they don't have a current one.
However there was no solution offered for those who have never had a British passport such as children born abroad to British parents, or dual nationals born in the UK like the schoolgirl currently stranded in Copenhagen.
READ ALSO: 'A money making racket' - Angry British dual nationals blast UK passport demand
What are the rules?
Ever since the launch of ETA, there has been confusion when it comes to British dual nationals. The Home Office had done little to allay these fears, but for a full breakdown of the rules, or what is understood of them so far, at least, read The Local's explainer here.
In short: British or Irish nationals travelling on their UK or Irish passport do not require the electronic travel authorisation known as the ETA.
Many British dual nationals, however, might not have a British passport anymore. These people have always previously had the option of simply using their other passport to enter the UK but the rule change makes this more difficult, if not impossible.
This is because the website and app used to apply for the ETA demands that people list any other nationalities they possess - but does not allow applicants to select 'British' as another nationality - meaning that dual nationals cannot truthfully complete the ETA application and travel on their other passport. Basically British dual nationals have been told they cannot get an ETA.
They would therefore be at risk of being accused of making a false declaration if they hadn't applied for and paid for a new passport (for £108) or a Certificate of Entitlement, which costs £589.
READ ALSO: Explained: The UK's £16 ETA travel permit
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