Brexit: I'm British, will my French son need a UK passport?

Will French son, 14, need own passport for UK visit?

I am a British citizen, living permanently in France since 2001. My son is 14 and was born in France and is a French citizen. When we return to the UK to see our family now Brexit has taken place, will my son’scarte d’identité be sufficient to enter the UK, or will he need his own passport?

It is currently possible for nationals of EU/EEA countries to travel to the UK either with a valid passport or a national identity card (people from other countries may only enter with a passport).

The UK government states that nothing will change during the transition period but they may cancel the right to use identity cards after this (currently from January 1, 2021). Updates will be provided at: gov.uk/guidance/visiting-the-uk-after-brexit. The UK government says that it will clarify this and the date from which it will apply, in plenty of time for people to plan.

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They add that they intended that after the transition period EU/EEA citizens will still be able to enter the UK through fast electronic gates, where available (as long as they have a biometric passport) and it will not matter if the passport has less than six months to run on it as long as it will not expire during the trip.

So, in the short-term your son does not need his own passport, but we recommend obtaining one for him this year in preparation of a possible change.

Get our Brexit and Britons in France 2020 Help Guide

In our comprehensive help guide, you'll find information on what Brexit means for British residents, second homeowners and visitors in France - now and after December 31, 2020. Recently updated following on from the delay of the new residence card website for Britons (now set to launch in October), this 64-page handbook outlines what you need to do as Britain leaves the EU. We answer your questions on whether second homeowners can spend more than 90 days in France after Brexit, would you be better covered for healthcare by becoming French, future guidance on pet vaccinations and more.

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