Search Q&A
Surname problem for married women travelling to Britain
I posted this last week but it hasn’t appeared in print.
This could be a problem a number of women with dual British/Belgian citizenship could be facing.
The Identity cards, vaccination certificates are all registered in the MAIDEN names whereas for many the British passport is registered in the MARRIED name.
Thereby is the problem. One cannot travel to Britain using a Belgian identity card because of Schengen. Normally I would use my British passport to cross the Channel but because of the present Covid situation it is impossible as my Passport and Vaccination certificates carry a different surname.
Is there a simple way to regularise this other than ordering a Belgian passport?
Firstly, if you are a Belgian national you should be using your Belgian eID to leave and re-enter the Schengen zone, then using your British passport just to enter the UK. Once the various visa-waiver arrangements start you will have no choice but to do that.
Secondly, apart from passports, which aren't habitually carried, the UK has no identity card system so there is no way that anyone can demand identity verification of your vaccination certificates. Furthermore if someone should, you will be in a better position than most Brits because you can show your Belgian eID, just because the British no longer wish to recognise it for entry to the UK doesn't mean that it ceases to be a secure state-issued ID card.
If you are still worried load a photo or scan of your wedding certificate on your phone.
The simple way is to order a Belgian passport.
It's not a problem at all. I know lots of people with different names on ID and passport (almost every married British woman). It's a very common situation and authorities are used to it.
@newonline "with my British passport and Belgian eID, I can travel the word!"
Although apparently not to the U.K.!
Just get a Belgian passport. You are a Belgian citizen afer all???
