A 15-year-old British girl faced a six-week delay in returning to her school in the UK after visiting her grandmother in Italy, due to new Home Office regulations concerning dual nationals. The policy, which came into effect in February 2026 under the current Labour government, mandates that dual British nationals must possess a British passport, or a 'certificate of entitlement' costing £589, to enter the country.
The girl, who was stranded in Rome in April, is among several individuals, including other children and young adults returning from countries like Spain and Denmark, who have encountered difficulties. Rowan Somerville, the girl's father and an author, expressed strong criticism of both the Home Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), highlighting their inability to assist a British child affected by a rule they implemented.
Mr Somerville recounted that his daughter was denied boarding for her flight back to the UK, where she resides and attends school. He described a frustrating process of being 'bounced' between government departments, stating, 'They are playing with people’s lives, a child’s education. It is loathsome.' Her school also intervened, writing to government departments to express increasing concern over her prolonged absence from education.
According to Mr Somerville, the Home Office was unable to issue a temporary passport because his daughter did not possess a British passport initially. His local MP, Joe Powell, made representations to the Home Office, which ultimately led to the FCDO issuing an emergency travel document in May, enabling her return. Mr Powell has indicated he will write to the Immigration Minister, Mike Tapp, to address the communication of these rules and prevent similar situations for other schoolchildren.
Mr Somerville described the entire ordeal as a 'bureaucratic nightmare,' further compounded by a three-month struggle to obtain a British passport for his daughter, despite the government website stating a three-week processing time. While praising the 'remarkable kindness' of frontline Passport Office staff, he lamented hitting a 'wall of stupidity' with higher-level officials. The Home Office previously dismissed claims of inadequate communication regarding the rule change, asserting that information was available on the gov.uk website.