Living in the UK for 80 years: Polish couple could not return home

Maria Krupa, 85, and her 92-year-old husband Czesław, who have resided in the United Kingdom for nearly eight decades, faced a distressing situation when they were denied boarding a flight back to their home. The couple arrived in Southampton between 1947 and 1948. They are children of Polish soldiers who were displaced in 1940 and later joined General Władysław Anders' army, serving in various locations before integrating into the British command structure after 1942.

After the war, they settled in Bury, near Manchester, and built a normal life. They had never encountered issues with travel or proving their right to reside in the UK until May of this year. During a visit to relatives in Poland, Ryanair staff refused to let them board their return flight.

The reason cited was their lack of a document confirming their UK residency or an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), a post-Brexit requirement for many travelers. "It was a huge shock. We never for a moment thought that after almost 80 years someone would tell us we couldn't go home," Maria Krupa stated.

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It was a huge shock. We never for a moment thought that after almost 80 years someone would tell us we couldn't go home.

The couple explained their situation, highlighting that their fathers had fought alongside the British during World War II. However, the airline staff cited potential penalties for non-compliance. The situation was particularly difficult for Czesław Krupa, who uses a mobility scooter and requires regular medication.

The following day, the couple obtained an ETA, but they had to declare their residence as Poland because the form did not accept their UK address. Upon returning to the UK, they sought assistance from the charity Settled, which supports EU citizens with post-Brexit residency matters. After submitting the necessary documentation, they were granted settled status, confirming their right to permanent residency.

Kate Smart, CEO of Settled, reported that similar cases are occurring almost daily and are now numbering in the thousands. The EU Settlement Scheme, launched in 2019, aims to provide EU citizens residing in the UK with documentation proving their right to travel.

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Our fathers fought for Poland and England.