Woman stranded in Spain because of £589 change in passport rules

Woman stranded in Spain because of £589 change in passport rulesThe rules changed this year and mean Natasha cannot return home to the UKCommentsNewsNeil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)08:52, 13 Apr 2026View 5 ImagesA London-born woman has been left stranded in Spain after a change in UK border rulesA London-born woman has been left stranded in Spain after falling foul to new changes in UK border rules which meant she was denied re-entry to the UK. Natasha Cochrane De La Rosa, 26, was prevented from boarding a return flight from Amsterdam to Luton after spending a few days there on holiday with friends on April 2.‌The Home Office introduced new rules on February 25 stating dual nationals are no longer able to enter the UK using a foreign passport alone – and must now present either a British or Irish passport or possess a digital certificate of entitlement. Natasha was born and raised in Islington, North London, and has a British father and Spanish mother.‌As they were unmarried when Natasha was born, her father was unable to automatically pass on his citizenship, something Natasha says has left her in a “grey area”. She says now, in order to get home she must either pay £589 for a digital certificate of entitlement or apply for a British passport.‌View 5 ImagesNatasha Cochrane De La RosaIn order to do this she says she has to “prove” her mother had free movement rights across the EU when she was born – something she says she never received paperwork for. Natasha, a client success manager, from Haringey, North London, said: “I was born in Islington, I have paid taxes, I have voted.“I am a dual national I do have British nationality but the government are saying none of that I have lived for 26 years matters anymore. I booked a flight to Sevilla and I am staying with a family friend.‌“Luckily I am privileged enough to have a haven essentially but if I didn’t have any ties to my country, didn’t speak the language or have anywhere to stay I would have been...