An 18-year-old British-Danish student is trapped in an Indian airport with nowhere to go, and her mother reveals how terrifying the night was

An 18-year-old British-Danish student is stranded in an Indian airport, unable to leave the premises because she holds no visa for local accommodation. Her case is one of several recent instances of British teenagers being caught out by new UK passport rules for dual nationals, as first highlighted by LADbible. The student had traveled before the new rules came into effect, but her attempted return has left her stuck.

Her mother said her daughter “couldn’t leave the airport as she had no visa to find accommodation” and described her as “very, very scared.” A separate case involves a 19-year-old British-French national named Anna, who is stranded in Spain. A family friend, Rosemary, spoke about Anna’s situation and criticized the Home Office’s handling of the changes, noting that Anna has her British birth certificate, photos of her parents’ British passports, and proof of UK residence, yet none of it has been sufficient.

Earlier this week, a British-Norwegian student named Hanne was also prevented from boarding a Norwegian Airlines flight from Copenhagen to London because she did not have a British passport. These cases point to a growing problem for dual nationals attempting to return to the UK.

The new rules caught travelers off guard before they had time to prepare

The Home Office introduced new border rules last month that now require British citizens who hold dual nationality to present either a UK passport or a certificate of entitlement to airlines before boarding any flight bound for the UK. Previously, EU nationals could enter using their national ID cards, but that option no longer applies to British dual nationals. The change has created significant disruption at airports, amid broader travel policy friction affecting passengers in other countries as well.

Dual nationality occurs when a person holds citizenship in two countries, whether through parentage, place of birth, or marriage. Many people who have lived abroad for extended periods have acquired citizenship in their adopted country, a process that can take years.

The central issue is that the rules are new, and many dual nationals have not yet had time to apply for a British passport or certificate of entitlement. The situation has drawn comparisons to other cases where travelers have been stranded due to administrative rule failures with little notice or remedy.

Those affected, including the teenagers in India and Spain, are also missing school time ahead of critical exams. Dual nationals without a current British passport or certificate of entitlement are advised to obtain one to avoid a similar situation.