Sarah Byron was shocked to learn that her Canadian passport would soon no longer be valid for entry into the UK.

A dual British-Canadian citizen who immigrated to Canada in the 1970s and lives in Montreal, she regularly returns to the UK at least once a year. However, new UK rules starting February 25 will require all citizens to use a British or Irish passport to enter the country.

Mr Byron, whose British passport was revoked, said: “We were scared. People didn’t believe us.” “If people who were going to travel in March didn’t know about this, it would be a nightmare.”

Entry requirements for dual nationals will be updated as part of wider changes to entry requirements in the UK. The sudden changes, quietly announced in the fall, caught the public off guard, leaving many confused and frustrated by the requirements.

Some British MPs ask for a grace period He warned that “haphazard communication” could leave some travelers stranded abroad.

Dual nationals without a passport will face two costly options: obtain a certificate of title, a document proving their right to live in the UK, or renounce their citizenship. Prices for both alternatives range from $800 to over $1,000.

Once the new rules come into force, dual nationals like Mr Byron risk being refused entry without a British passport or title document. She said the change and the lack of communication surrounding it has left her feeling unwelcome in the country where she grew up.

“I don’t feel well at all,” she said. “With a Canadian passport, I can go anywhere in the world except where I was born.”

Why are the rules changing?

It’s unclear how many people will be affected, but Statistics Canada says more than 460,000 Canadian residents were born in the United Kingdom.

In some cases, children of people born in the UK may also be affected. British citizenship is granted automatically Down through the parents.

The new passport rules relate to the recent introduction of Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) requirements for entry into the UK, which came into force last year. This brings the country in line with similar immigration systems in the United States and Canada.

Rob Tinline, the British High Commissioner to Canada, said the changes are part of a move to a digital immigration system that will strengthen border security.

“We want British nationals to come to Britain, we want Canadians to come to Britain, and we don’t want to get in the way of that,” Tinline said in an interview. “But this is about us modernizing our borders. This is a system very similar to what Canada has for its own citizens.”

See | Dual nationals face new travel hurdles when entering the UK:

Canada requires dual citizens to enter the country on a Canadian passport, with the exception of Canadian-American dual citizens, who can use a U.S. passport.

Mr Tinline said most foreign tourists would need an ETA and British and Irish nationals would not be eligible for one. He encourages people to check out the following advice: UK government websiteto determine the correct documents required for entry.

“Obviously this is a significant change,” he said.

“We want to make the system as easy as possible and we want to get that message across so people can make sure they are properly compliant.”

surprised traveler

Many Canadian-British dual nationals planning to travel are currently scrambling to renew or apply for British passports.

Selina Bowles, a travel advisor at Travel Agent Next Door in Burlington, Ont., said she checks to see if clients meet requirements, including asking if they have British-born parents.

“Most people I talk to haven’t heard about this new change yet,” she said.

Bowles said one of her clients, a man in his 80s, needed a British passport for the first time due to the rule change.

She is guiding travelers through the application process to ensure they don’t run into any problems, but expects confusion when the changes take effect Wednesday.

Airlines have been told to check whether passengers meet entry requirements before boarding.

“We’re going to have a lot of travelers coming to the airport and being told they can’t get on the plane,” Bowles said.

The Home Office announced this on Thursday. Airlines may accept expired passports as alternative documents in addition to valid foreign passports “at their sole discretion”. However, this exception will not help people who have recently applied for a British passport and sent back an expired passport as part of that process.

“Very disappointing.”

Obtaining a new British passport is proving particularly complicated for Byron.

Her expired British passport has her middle name listed, but her valid Canadian passport does not, along with other Canadian documents.

Under the UK’s ‘single name policy’, foreigners must ensure that their name is the same on their foreign and UK passports. If your documents do not show consistent use of one name, your passport application may be rejected.

Some dual nationals living in other countries claimed the rules were discriminatoryThis is because some countries require women to keep their maiden name after marriage. In Quebec, women are required to use their maiden name on all legal documents.

Multiple dual nationals who spoke to CBC News said different last and middle names also complicate matters.

Mr Byron said he would contact the British government to find a solution and was refraining from making any travel plans for now.

“I’m going to wait until things calm down,” she said. “It’s very depressing.”