Travelling from France to UK: dual nationals warn over passport renewal issues

UK citizens with dual nationality may struggle to renew their passport to travel to the UK if their French document shows any different name, ie a maiden name, to the name data on the renewal application form.

It comes as the UK enforces its electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme.

Tolerance period ended

Since February 25, transport companies (plane, ferry operators etc) are instructed to check that all passengers travelling to the UK hold a valid ETA or passport. 

UK and Irish citizens must enter via their UK or Irish passport, they are not permitted to apply for an ETA linked to a French / other third party country passport.

This has required many to renew their UK passports, only to face another hurdle: mismatched names.

When applying to renew a UK passport applicants must let the UK Passport Office know if they hold any other passport.If they do, the Passport Office will undertake a check to ensure that the name on their non-British document is aligned with the name on their British passport application, ie that the name data matches. 

French passports show a woman’s maiden name or both maiden and married names under the label ‘épouse,’ whereas UK passports typically display only the married name. If the renewal of a UK passport cannot be undertaken promptly because of a mismatch, applicants may be left without valid travel documentation. 

Under ETA rules, UK dual nationals cannot use their foreign passport to enter the UK, potentially preventing boarding at their departure destination or leading to entry refusal at the UK border.

Real-world consequences

One Connexion reader noted on Facebook: “The names should be the same on both documents. My son had a problem because his middle name was on his UK passport, as per his UK birth certificate issued by the Embassy in Madrid, and not on his Spanish passport or birth certificate. This had not bothered the UK Passport Office on issuing his first passport but did on renewing it.”

Another wrote: “A lady had trouble renewing her British passport because you have to send a copy of the second nationality passport too. In France our passports have the maiden name but British ones have married names. The passport office would not accept the difference. When I applied for my French passport it has my maiden name and then I asked for it to include épouse and my married name. I am hoping this will eliminate the problem.”

Other EU citizens face similar complications. Italian passports are issued in the maiden surname, with “coniugata” or “vedova” on the observation page. The Italian consulate can provide a certified note confirming the bearer’s identity, which UK Passport Office staff can use to issue a British passport in a married name. Other dual nationals report reverting to their maiden name by deed poll to simplify the process.

Renewing a UK passport from France can take around a month via the UK government’s online application and costs £108 plus courier costs. Emergency travel documents can be issued in two days but are temporary.

One dual UK/French citizen recounted: “I cannot visit the UK while waiting for my new passport. My UK passport is invalid, and I cannot use my French passport because it requires an ETA, which I cannot get because I am a UK citizen.”

Have you faced administrative hurdles due to differences between your UK and French documents? Let us know at letters@connexionfrance.com