A British father living in France has faced a frustrating delay in obtaining a British passport for his teenage daughter after authorities questioned whether he was her biological father, despite the documents and photographs he had already provided.
The case highlights the difficulties some British citizens living abroad are experiencing under new UK passport and border-entry requirements for dual nationals.
The father, who is married to a French citizen, has three children. His two older children hold both British and French passports, but his youngest daughter, who was born while the family lived in Zimbabwe, has only a French passport.
He began applying for a British passport for his daughter in February. As part of the process, he submitted photographs of his wife during pregnancy, family pictures spanning the period from his daughter’s birth to the present, hospital records, and official translations of the family’s French marriage and birth certificates.
During an official interview, he was questioned about his employment, daily commute and the layout of his home. However, he said relatively little attention was given to his relationship with his daughter.
Despite the extensive documentation, he was informed that there was insufficient evidence to establish paternity. He was subsequently offered the option of taking a DNA test, estimated to cost £600, which would mean further expense and delay.
The situation has prevented the family from making plans to visit the father’s elderly and unwell father in the United Kingdom. The family fears that their daughter could be denied boarding if they attempt to travel using her French passport.
Under rules introduced in February, British dual nationals are generally required to present a valid British passport or another accepted document proving their right to enter the UK. Those living abroad who do not hold a British passport may face additional costs, including £589 for a certificate of entitlement where applicable.
The father questioned why the evidence he had already submitted was considered inadequate and why he had not been given a clear explanation. He also sought clarification on whether his daughter could travel using her French passport while her British nationality remained unresolved.
According to the UK Home Office guidance cited in the report, passport applications should be assessed on the balance of probabilities when an applicant declines a DNA test. Officials must also explain the reasons for refusing an application.
The Home Office declined to comment on the family’s individual case. However, it explained that additional evidence, including details about a family’s home, could be requested to help establish the credibility of an application.
In a surprising development, the father was later informed that his daughter’s passport application had been accepted. This happened despite no additional documents having been requested since April.
The outcome raises questions about the consistency, transparency and fairness of the passport application process, particularly for British families living overseas who must establish their children’s entitlement to British citizenship documents.
