British passport & Australian citizen

[scarfinn]

Hi, I am in a bit of a situation well to be fair my wife is.

My wife who holds a British passport that was issued this year (no visa) and became an Australian citizen last year is currently back in Ireland with our 14 month old visiting family.

When she departed a few days ago customs advised her she should be traveling on an Australian passport which she does not have. He said it would be difficult to clear customs upon her return. Difficult to get an Australian passport for whilst over there and expensive.

Wondering if anyone has some experience or advice. I was thinking if I send her her original Australian citizenship certificate would that suffice. My 14 mth old daughter has an Australian passport. Called Dep immigration they were unbelievably unhelpful (have you read the website, here let me read a section to you).

She leaves Ireland on the 9th sep. and help would be greatly appreciated. I know it was a silly oversight. Currently sitting on the couch with our 10 & 8 yr olds.

Thanks

 

[flyingfan]

The citizenship certificate won't suffice, despite its face value it doesn't confirm your Australian right to travel the way an Australian passport does and it's definitely not photo ID.

Having a copy of the certificate will be better than nothing though.

She can expect to be delayed arriving back into Australia, and possibly even at the overseas airport before boarding her flight, and that's the last thing you need when traveling with a young one.

Remember, when crossing the Australian border and dealing with Australian immigration, use an Australian passport if you have one. What passports you show at the airline check-in (when departing Australia), and when arriving overseas may be different.

 

[clifford]

The citizenship certificate won't suffice

My view, as a dual passport holder, is that she is unlikely to be able to board a flight to Australia without a valid AU passport or a visa in her British passport ( which legally she can't get). Her best bet is to contact the British High Commission in London or the embassy in Dublin (if indded there is one).

 

[Deleted member]

I am surprised that this wasn’t something she considered thinking about 12 months ago when she obtained her Australian citizenship.
It’s easier for ex-pat kiwis as we don’t have the same visa restrictions, but as a dual national alrady, the first thing I considered when contemplating Australian naturalisation (I qualify by descent) was what the rules around travel were.
Is there a chance your wife can dash across the pond to London or the nearest Australian embassy? It might make things a little less messy when she returns to Australia.

 

[Peter D]

Does she have an old expired British passport with a residency stamp/visa!, in it?.

I once worked for an American citizen whose visa was in an old passport that he always kept with his current passport (USA). Bound together with a rubber band.

Will she have time to apply for an Australian passport from overseas?

I had to do this once. Actually after having both passports stolen while on a long weekend in Ireland. I applied through Australia house in London. They weren’t very friendly or helpful but I had time just do what I was told and I could use my mother’s local postal address.

She should talk to the local Australian Embassy/Consul. Might be nicer than the one I got.

Do be careful as Airlines could refuse to carry her if there is doubt about rights of entry.

In general once one is an Australian citizen one is expected to use an Australian passport to re-enter Australia.

 

[RooFlyer]

Sending the citizenship certificate might help, if she is able to board the flight.

An Australian citizen does not need a passport to enter Australia. At the end on the day, they just have to demonstrate their citizenship. It will take longer etc but can be done.

The citizenship certificate would help in getting a new passport, but I expect would arrive to late to be useful. Get a scan of it, and email it, then express post or courier the original.

 

[opusman]

Get the ETA on her British passport, which should let her board the flight without fuss. In Australia, show British passport and explain the situation (don't just enter without explanation). Yes she may get held up but at the end of the day they can't refuse entry.

 

[sjk]

Get the ETA on her British passport

Is that kosher?

 

[Pushka]

Is that kosher?

She’s still a Brit isn’t she? Valid passport etc. It’s the airline that will cause her the most issues. So deal with that issue first. On arrival plead complete ignorance/stupidity/sorry sorry. She’s an Australian citizen as well.

I’m curious though. Didn’t she just scan her passport on exit and no need to see an immigration person?

 

[sjk]

I would have thought that the same logic that prohibits an Australian holding an Australian visa in a non-Australian passport would also apply to an ETA.

Also note that it can't be done online:

To apply for an ETA online through this website, you must hold a passport from one of the following countries or regions:

• Brunei Darussalam
• Canada
• Hong Kong (SAR PRC)
• Japan
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• Korea, Rep of (STH)
• United States

If you aren’t eligible to apply for an ETA online you might be able to apply through a travel agent, airline or at an Australian visa office.

 

[scarfinn]

Thanks for everyone’s advice.
Yes should have looked into it sooner, our own fault for being in this situation but here we are.
There won’t be enough time for a new passport.
I agree departing Dublin may be the hardest part. As legally you cannot get the ETA on a foreign passport as an Australian citizen.
I don’t think from some reading and speaking to customs officials at Melb airport that it will be a major issue once she arrives and has copies (originals) of citizenship certificate. Will be calling Australian embassy in Dublin in Monday to seek further advice. I believe the airline may call them to confirm she can travel at check in.
She does have an expired passport with the permanent residency visa so will also send that to her.
Liv and learn.
She was talking about moving the family back to Ireland, may have happened sooner than expected!

Once again thanks for taking the time to help
Paul

 

[opusman]

Note that UK passport holders can apply for eVisitor which is free unlike ETA, and can be done online: Evisitor Online Application

 

[sjk]

Note that UK passport holders can apply for eVisitor which is free unlike ETA, and can be done online: Evisitor Online Application

Also unlike an ETA, it's actually a visa, and therefore not permissible.

 

[dk4]

Remember, when crossing the Australian border and dealing with Australian immigration, use an Australian passport if you have one. What passports you show at the airline check-in (when departing Australia), and when arriving overseas may be different.

Also remember, with the new outbound smartgate system, your Australian passport must be used at check in when you are departing Australia.

As for the OP, get the wife to contact the nearest accessible diplomatic mission (in Dublin? Australian Embassy, Ireland) and they will be able to help. At the very least, if they can't issue a passport in time, they might be able to do something else so she can enter Australia with her new UK passport (e.g. issue an ADV https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Forms/Documents/931.pdf)

P.S. any Australian visa in her old UK passport was automatically cancelled when she became an Australian citizen.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Australian border control can pre-clear a passenger to arrive without the usual documentation (and they can't refuse an Australian citizen).

The UK passport is still important because although Aussie authorities can pre-clear passengers, any transit countries en route are not always as accommodating. However the UK passport would get around this issue to satisfy any transit country the passenger could enter in the event of an unforeseen delay to travel.

 

[harvyk]

As others have said, as an Australian citizen she can't be refused entry, so once she get's here all is fine. Convincing the airlines of that will be the trick.

The first step I would take is to call the airline and explain the situation. I'm sure this is not the first time this has happened, and they may even have a procedure for working this sort of problem out. Airlines can also contact DFAT / Immi directly to get first hand advice and approvals without the pax having the correct paperwork.

Chances are provided all countries she will be travelling through to get home have international transit zone's once she's on her way it'll be smooth sailing.

I would recommend that you do get her a copy of any citizenship documentation as this will help immigration here in AU work out that she really is a citizen. I would recommend not sending the original documents to her in case something happened to them on route, however I would recommend meeting her at the airport with the original documents in hand just to be on the safe side.

Edit: I wouldn't attempt getting a visa on her current passport since it will be automatically denied, and an airline representative is likely to see the denial and then refuse to look any deeper.

 

[scarfinn]

Note that UK passport holders can apply for eVisitor which is free unlike ETA, and can be done online: Evisitor Online Application

Looked at this but the evisitor will be rejected, I won’t lie on the application and certain questions will definitely result in denial of application.

Thank you for suggesting

 

[scarfinn]

Also remember, with the new outbound smartgate system, your Australian passport must be used at check in when you are departing Australia.

As for the OP, get the wife to contact the nearest accessible diplomatic mission (in Dublin? Australian Embassy, Ireland) and they will be able to help. At the very least, if they can't issue a passport in time, they might be able to do something else so she can enter Australia with her new UK passport (e.g. issue an ADV https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Forms/Documents/931.pdf)

P.S. any Australian visa in her old UK passport was automatically cancelled when she became an Australian citizen.

Sound advise this is my current course of action,

 

[scarfinn]

As others have said, as an Australian citizen she can't be refused entry, so once she get's here all is fine. Convincing the airlines of that will be the trick.

The first step I would take is to call the airline and explain the situation. I'm sure this is not the first time this has happened, and they may even have a procedure for working this sort of problem out. Airlines can also contact DFAT / Immi directly to get first hand advice and approvals without the pax having the correct paperwork.

Chances are provided all countries she will be travelling through to get home have international transit zone's once she's on her way it'll be smooth sailing.

I would recommend that you do get her a copy of any citizenship documentation as this will help immigration here in AU work out that she really is a citizen. I would recommend not sending the original documents to her in case something happened to them on route, however I would recommend meeting her at the airport with the original documents in hand just to be on the safe side.

Edit: I wouldn't attempt getting a visa on her current passport since it will be automatically denied, and an airline representative is likely to see the denial and then refuse to look any deeper.

She is travelling with Etihad and has a 3 hr transit in AUH.

Will speak to the airline after talking to to the embassy in Dublin.

 

[scarfinn]

Australian border control can pre-clear a passenger to arrive without the usual documentation (and they can't refuse an Australian citizen).

The UK passport is still important because although Aussie authorities can pre-clear passengers, any transit countries en route are not always as accommodating. However the UK passport would get around this issue to satisfy any transit country the passenger could enter in the event of an unforeseen delay to travel.

This was my hope. To deal with it now and provide as much documentation as possible so maybe this can be arranged to smooth Dublin check in and Melbourne arrival