Key facts
- Maria and Czeslaw Krupa, Polish citizens who have resided in the UK for nearly 80 years, were denied boarding by Ryanair for their return flight from Krakow.
- The airline cited a lack of post-Brexit travel documentation, such as an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), as the reason for refusal.
- The couple, who arrived in the UK as child dependents of Polish service members after World War II, had previously travelled without needing special immigration status.
- To return to the UK, they had to obtain an ETA, falsely stating they lived in Poland as their British address was not accepted.
- The charity Settled assisted the Krupas in securing settled status, which was granted by the Home Office last week.
- Settled reported seeing thousands of similar cases, particularly involving elderly individuals who have lived in the UK for decades.
Maria Krupa, 85, and Czeslaw Krupa, 92, who have lived in the UK for nearly 80 years after their parents fled the Second World War, faced a terrifying ordeal when Ryanair refused to let them board their return flight from Krakow.
The couple, who arrived in Southampton in 1947 and 1948 as dependents of displaced Polish service members, had travelled extensively throughout their adult lives without issue, holding "Aliens' registration cards" and never needing to prove their immigration status.
However, during a visit to Poland in May to see family, they were informed by Ryanair that they required post-Brexit documentation, such as an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), to re-enter the UK. The airline stated it would face a significant fine if they boarded without the correct paperwork.
"It was a big shock," Maria Krupa said, expressing disappointment and concern, particularly for her husband who requires medication for a stroke. "We never thought for one minute that after nearly 80 years someone would tell us we couldn’t go home."
After being forced to leave the airport, the Krupas returned the following day with an ETA, but had to falsely claim they lived in Poland as their British address was not accepted by the online form. They described their return to England as "terrifying" due to the need to potentially lie again.
Assisted by the charity Settled, which reported seeing thousands of similar cases involving elderly individuals, the Krupas applied for settled status. The Home Office resolution centre swiftly processed their application, granting them settled status last week.
Kate Smart, chief executive of Settled, highlighted that many affected individuals are elderly with British children and grandchildren, often not discussing "settled status" as they never perceived themselves as immigrants. She urged the government to implement a process at airports to handle such issues when they arise.