![\"Sarah](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1_WhatsApp-Image-2026-05-05-at-085653-1-copy.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSarah Rodgers and husband Philipp, from Ellon, Aberdeenshire, were left stranded in Spain with their two children after being told that 11-month-old Lily did not have the right documentation to fly home.<\/p>\n
Sarah Rodgers and husband Philipp on holiday with daughters Lily and Heidi(Image: UGC)<\/p>\n
A Scots born baby was barred from travelling home to the UK<\/a> from a holiday in Spain leaving her family stranded abroad due to new travel rules.<\/p>\n Sarah Rodgers, 30, and husband Philipp, 34, from Ellon, Aberdeenshire, were horrified when they were told at the boarding gate<\/a> that 11-month-old Lily did not have the right documentation to fly back from their sunshine break in Alicante last week.<\/p>\n They couple, who are also parents to Heidi, three, had been caught out by new Border Rules<\/a> for dual British Nationals which came in effect just weeks ago.<\/p>\n But the family could remain stuck in Europe for several months while they wait for Lily, who was born and lives permanently in the UK but holds an Austrian EU passport, to be approved for a British passport.<\/p>\n With Lily ineligible for emergency documents or a fast track passport application and unable to afford hotels, they were forced to fly from Spain to Austria, where Philipp is from, to wait out the process.<\/p>\n They told the Record of their \u201cnightmare\u201d in a bid to spare other families the same ordeal.<\/p>\n The family flew out to Alicante last month(Image: UGC)<\/p>\n Sarah said: \u201cIt\u2019s just a ridiculous situation in my opinion. We just want to share it in case it can help other people.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we went on holiday we had absolutely no idea that we wouldn\u2019t be able to return home.<\/p>\n \u201cMy husband has stayed with us just now to find out what\u2019s happening but he can\u2019t stay here for weeks because he has to go to work.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one we speak to can give us any answers, or any help in getting home. We have been passed from person to person, around each department and not received much help at all.\u201d<\/p>\n The family flew out to Alicante from Aberdeen on April 23.<\/p>\n Entry requirements for dual British nationals were overhauled from February 25 as part of the roll out of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, a major immigration reform that require visitors to the UK who do not have a visa, to apply for an entry document before arriving.<\/p>\n The family, who had not yet applied for a British passport for Lily, went ahead with their trip believing she could travel on her European passport.<\/p>\n The family holiday ended in disaster(Image: UGC)<\/p>\n Sarah said: \u201cWhen we booked the flight it said if you are not British you\u2019ll need an ETA to return to the UK, but as we are British we thought that didn\u2019t apply to us.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was only when we were about to board the flight home we found out. Our luggage was already on the flight, they scanned my boarding card and said \u2018you can\u2019t board because your baby doesn\u2019t have the right documentation\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cHer Austrian passport has her place of birth written on it, and also states it was issued to her from the UK. But they said that is not proof enough.<\/p>\n \u201cThey removed our luggage and we had to go and pick it up from lost property. It was really stressful. It was 6pm.<\/p>\n \u201cThey told us to go to the help desk. We were there for two hours. They phoned the Home Office but we were still not allowed to travel so they said we had to go back into the city and go to the British embassy.<\/p>\n \u201cMy older daughter also flew on an Austrian passport and they told her she could return home because she has had a British passport.\u201d<\/p>\n Electronics engineer Philip remained in Spain with Heidi so they could try and fix the problem, but has work commitments at home.<\/p>\n The family paid \u00a3180 for a one night stay in Alicante but, after visiting the embassy, they were stunned to learn they could be stranded for more than 10 weeks.<\/p>\n Lily and Heidi are dual UK and Austrian nationals(Image: UGC)<\/p>\n Sarah said: \u201cThe embassy told us (Lily) can not enter the UK without a British passport or an emergency travel document. She was declined for an emergency document. They said it wasn\u2019t an emergency.<\/p>\n \u201cThey said the timeline to send me the travel documents was unlimited.\u201d<\/p>\n The family say Lily is not eligible to apply for an ETA as she is a UK citizen and they have also explored the option of travelling to Ireland in the hope she will be allowed to enter and travel onwards from there, but this might not be allowed.<\/p>\n Sarah said: \u201cWe realised we were going to be stuck in Europe for a long period of time so we booked a direct flight to Austria where we knew we could stray with someone for free and not have to pay hotels.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s impossible to get through to the British embassy in Austria. We\u2019ve applied for her passport but I read it could take ten weeks plus an additional four weeks if they need more info. There is no fast track option for a baby who hasn\u2019t had a British passport before.<\/p>\n \u201cThey needed original documents, which are at home, so the registry office in Aberdeen have helped us and sent them direct to the passport office.\u201d<\/p>\n Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n All you have to do is click here<\/a>, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in!<\/p>\n We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. 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