Australian cannot enter Aus on UK passport!

[dmcc]

Hi

We are in a bit of a panic as we have flight from Glasgow to Perth in a few days and have a visa issue. As I am Australian, I registered both my 7 year old and 10 year old as Australian citizens by descent when they were born. They don't have Aus passports.
On previous visits back to Perth, ETAs were processed on their UK passports no bother. Now the system won't process as I have just discovered that they must travel on a Aus passport!

Now there is not enough time to get passports processed in London before we leave!

Any help greatly appreciated! I have their certificates etc, and I will be with them travelling on my Aus passport. Surely this is enough?!

 

[markis10]

Welcome to AFF,

I would suggest you contact the Australian Embassy who can provide the legal advice you need, I am sure in the situation they can produce documentation to allow you to enter the country as required.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Hi

We are in a bit of a panic as we have flight from Glasgow to Perth in a few days and have a visa issue. As I am Australian, I registered both my 7 year old and 10 year old as Australian citizens by descent when they were born. They don't have Aus passports.
On previous visits back to Perth, ETAs were processed on their UK passports no bother. Now the system won't process as I have just discovered that they must travel on a Aus passport!

Now there is not enough time to get passports processed in London before we leave

Any help greatly appreciated! I have their certificates etc, and I will be with them travelling on my Aus passport. Surely this is enough?!

How did you arrive at the conclusion your children need to travel on UK passports?

 

[markis10]

How did you arrive at the conclusion your children need to travel on UK passports?

It's more than likely that it's easier if UK based to travel on the UK ones.

 

[Sprucegoose]

It's more than likely that it's easier if UK based to travel on the UK ones.

Certainly for euro travel.

I am thinking though the advice may have come from a less than reliable source.

OP did not state source of advice

 

[Austman]

Department of Immigration & Citizenship seems to be comprehensive

 

[dmcc]

Thanks everyone for the input.

I have never bothered with getting the Aus passports for the kids as it is expensive and up to now not justified for a trip we only do every few years. As pointed out - if living in EU - it is much more useful having a EU passport!

It seems now both a UK and Aus passport are needed.

I still don't understand the logic behind the rules - is it just to sell passports? As I said earlier - twice previously ETA visas were granted on the kids UK Passports - so this is new to me.

I am sure this must have come up for someone else...
Cheers and thanks again.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I still don't understand the logic behind the rules - is it just to sell passports? As I said earlier - twice previously ETA visas were granted on the kids UK Passports - so this is new to me.

I am sure this must have come up for someone else...
Cheers and thanks again.

AFAIK all if you are an Australian Citizen you must arrive on your Australian Passport (I think you can still depart on another passport).

One lurk going a while back for people with dual nationality was importing say a BMW to Australia from Germany as if you'd lived overseas for a year you were permitted to bring the car back to Oz & not pay hefty sales tax.

Before customs & immigration were computerised to the extent they are these days it was possible to depart Aust to Europe eg 01 Jan on your Aussie passport then a week later return to Aust on the British Passport. Eleven months down the track in December fly ex Aust this time on your British Passport then a couple of weeks later return to Aust on your Australian Passport.

Just by looking at the stamps in your passport Customs would see a stamp in your Aussie Passport than you departed Australia 01 January one year then 'returned' a year later in Jan.

They were none the wise that you flew Europe/Aust/Europe in between on your British Passport.

 

[Austman]

From Department of Immigration & Citizenship

Travel documents required for Australian citizens

Australian citizens have an automatic right of entry to Australia, and do not require a visa. Australian citizens need only to present the following documents to officers in immigration clearance:

• a valid Australian passport or other acceptable travel document
• a completed and signed Incoming Passenger Card.
  See: Passenger cards

Australians who hold dual or multiple nationalities should hold an Australian passport and use it to enter or leave Australia, even when using a foreign passport overseas. The only exception is where they have been issued with an Australian Declaratory Visa.
See: Australian Declaratory Visa (ADV)

Investigate the "other acceptable travel document" or "Australian Declaratory Visa (ADV)"?

I'm an Australian citizen but I have 2 passports (an EU one as well). I've left Australia OK (well, with a slight hassle) on my EU passport (when my Australian passport was away in a visa application process) but I have always arrived to Australia on my Australian passport.

 

[dmcc]

Investigate the "other acceptable travel document" or "Australian Declaratory Visa (ADV)"?

.

Thanks for this. Will def investigate the ADV option first thing Monday morning, but my pessimistic side thinks it unlikely to get them in place by Wednesday morning. The London immi web side doesn't list this visa as one of their services.

 

[Austman]

Thanks for this. Will def investigate the ADV option first thing Monday morning, but my pessimistic side thinks it unlikely to get them in place by Wednesday morning. The London immi web side doesn't list this visa as one of their services.

Best to talk to them. They are the authority. Best of luck and let us know how you go.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I am not sure where the original advice came from??

 

[simongr]

Slightly different situation here but I was very clearly advised by Immi that once I obtained Australian citizenship my permanent residency visa in my UK passport was cancelled. This gave me about 10 days to get an Oz passport before a UK trip...

I now carry both passports on every trip - just in case... The same applies for mrssimongr and toddlergr...