On Saturday, Kyle Harris, a 39‑year‑old British‑American dual national, was stopped from boarding his Jet2 return flight from the Greek issland of Kefalonia because he could not produce a UK passport. despite living in the United Kingdom since infancy and raising two British children, the new Home Office rule requiring a UK or Irish passport – or a £589 digital certificate of entitlement – left him stranded with his family.

Jet2 Enforces New Home Office Rule on Dual Nationals

According to the report, airline staff cited the Home Office’s February policy change, which now obliges dual‑national British citizens to present a valid UK or Irish passport when returning to the UK. The airline refused to accept Harris’s American passport, even though he has a British birth certificate, and offered the family the option to travel without him, which his wife Ruth declined.

£589 Digital ‘Certificate of Entitlement’ Sparks Confusion

The new digital certificate, priecd at £589, is intended to prove a person’s right to enter the UK without a British passport. Harris’s family was unaware of this requirement, noting that no warning appeared during booking, check‑in, or the outward journey.. As the report states, “Not once during booking,travel, or check‑in were we warned this could happen.”

Health Risks Amplify the Urgency

Complicating the situation , Harris suffers from a pituitary tumour and needs regular medication. His wife, a therapist, warned that the delay could jeopardise his health, as he has limited medication supplies while abroad. The family has appealed to the British consulate in Greece and the Foreign Office, submitting birth certificates, tax records, and other documentation to expedite a solution.

Who Can Actually Obtain the £589 Certificate?

Open questions remain about the accessibility of the digital entitlement. The report highlights that many dual nationals, like the Harris family, were unaware of the rule change and lack guidance on how to apply. It is unclear how long the application process takes, with the family fearing a three‑to‑eight‑week wait, and whether the Home Office will provide emergency pathways for cases involving medical needs.

What Still Needs Clarification?

Specific unanswered points include: (1) why airlines are not required to inform passengers of the new rule at the point of sale; (2) whether the Home Office will waive the £589 fee for urgent medical cases; and (3) how the digital certificate will be verified at airports across the EU... As the source notes, “It seems like the Home Office has changed the rules without informing people.”