[Closed] Anyone taken on a second nationality?

What have you got to lose?

I qualify for Irish citizenship, and I'm considering it.

What are the ancestry requirements? I had Polish grandparents on one side and it's tempting. I wonder if Poland will fill with highly qualified Brits working menial cleaning jobs.

I qualify for Irish citizenship, and I'm considering it.

Me too, just need to look into it properly though.

Leffeboy - because you are already living in Belgium?

Rachel

I would if I could. 🙁

Apparently, the only family ancestry outside the UK is Norwegian about four generations back which doesn't exactly help.

Plastic paddy here. Makes travel nicer. The Irish passport seems to be much more welcome than a British one in lots of countries

What have you got to lose?

What are the ancestry requirements

I qualify for Irish citizenship, and I'm considering it.

I thought I did as I had Irish Grandparents but they closed that door a few years ago.

I travel a lot for work and thought that travelling on an Irish passport was safer than a UK one. The 'Mericans and the Brits tend to be top of any terrorist's list. The only people who hate the Irish are the Brits, everyone else seems to love them.

Leffeboy - because you are already living in Belgium?

My Irish/Italian roots are too far back to be used*, but I've a Scottish grandparent so I'm watching the indy referendum closely.

He moved from Ireland to Birmingham and married an Italian dancer; I'm pretty sure I'm a Peaky Blinder.

I'm seriously considering a relocation to either France of Germany until this whole Brexit debacle is resolved. If I stay for 5 years, I can apply for citizenship.

so I'm watching the indy referendum closely.

I'm seriously considering a relocation to either France of Germany until this whole Brexit debacle is resolved.

I qualify for Irish citizenship, and I'm considering it.
I thought I did as I had Irish Grandparents but they closed that door a few years ago.

Not true can still get it if you want. Can apply online. Need to get yourself put on the foreign births register, which gives you citizenship. Then you can get a passport. Costs a few hundred quid.

Not true can still get it if you want. Can apply online. Need to get yourself put on the foreign births register, which gives you citizenship. Then you can get a passport. Costs a few hundred quid.

Only if your parents had registered. I don't think mine did and as they are no longer with us then that route is closed for me.

Canadian, but we moved here 9 years ago thinking ah it wouldn't be a bad thing to get dual nationality on the basis of access to the EU 🙄 so much for that.

Unfortunately my job is so annoyingly niche finding it hard to move back to Van

You sure about that? Doesn't say anything online about it.

Citizenship through descent from Irish grandparents
If one of your grandparents is an Irish citizen who was born in Ireland, but neither of your parents was born in Ireland, you may become an Irish citizen. You will need to have your birth registered in the Foreign Births Register – see below.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/irish_citizenship/irish_citizenship_through_birth_or_descent.html

From their website:

If you are entitled to register, your Irish citizenship is effective from the date of registration. The Irish citizenship of successive generations may be maintained in this way by each generation ensuring their registration in the Foreign Births Register before the birth of the next generation.

@tuskaloosa - have you found any downsides to having a second nationality yet?

Me, I'm looking forward to squatting in SaxonRider's caravan once he no longer has free movement to come across here 🙂

Yes, Canadian, and no downsides. Actually looking forward to moving out there in a couple of years time 🙂

I might even be applicable for Scottish too if they end up doing the off, so plenty of options 🙂

The only downside I can come up with after much thought is that I have no consular protection in two countries rather than just one.

[url= https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2213 ]France[/url]

Yes, the consular protection thing is there. I'll need to see which applies when travelling.

I can get a Norwegian passport if I choose to. Im considering it. I have lived in Norway for quite some time and have a Norwegian wife and a kiddie

gobuchul - Member
From their website:

If you are entitled to register, your Irish citizenship is effective from the date of registration. The Irish citizenship of successive generations may be maintained in this way by each generation ensuring their registration in the Foreign Births Register before the birth of the next generation.

I think that's just in relation to passing it down from great grand parents and further. ie passing it on to your children and their children.

Have you actually applied before?

leffeboy, you'll have to find it first! 😛 Actually, where are you? I'm in Wallonia, close to Namur.

In answer to the OP's question, I (obviously) also hold Canadian citizenship, and have experienced no downsides. I have the right to German citizenship under the 1991 'right of return' law, but would have to be resident there in order to claim it.

The beauty of being born in Canada to mixed parents! 8)

My dad is Irish, and born in Ireland so technically i'm an Irish citizen. I'm in the process of getting a passport, if only to skip queues at airports... but maybe one day getting a job in the EU.

Just got my Irish passport

Yes I got a Swedish passport last year, apparently the 2nd best passport to have after zee geeerrmans . Go me

leffeboy, you'll have to find it first! Actually, where are you? I'm in Wallonia, close to Namur.

Seems like loads of folks are 'dual' nationality of some sort. Loving the 'plastic paddy' :). Looking at it further I think I have paid tax for slightly longer in Belgium now that I have in the UK. Wasn't expecting that

huckleberryfatt - Member
Just got my Irish passport

Through what route?

I've got a few options having been born in New Zealand with an American father, rasied in the UK and moved to Sweden 10 years ago. So I guess I could technically have all the above, British only has been fine until recently so now in the process to obtain the Swedish passport for back up!

It will probably be something I'll have to do, too in the not too distant future. But I've been living in Germany for 17 years and have four children born here so I hope it won't be that much of a problem. This is one thing I've never understood about this whole Brexit fiasco is that the British citizens who stood to be affected most by Brexit (i.e. Those living in Europe) weren't allowed to vote! 👿

There was a process to vote from overseas.

I spent over 5 years in Australia and am proud to now have Australian citizenship as well as British. And yes the Brexit did partially influence our decision there.

I qualify for an Irish passport and will probably get one once the Brexit negotiations have finished and the immigration/travel situation is a bit clearer. The other half is Polish and is applying for a British passport but this is not for a desire to belong to an insular jingoistic sovereign state but to claim her pension after 35 years of being a higher rate tax payer in the U.K. on retirement. (Some will see that as a benefits cheating scam 🙄 )
We both see ourselves as European and want to stay that way.

@tarquin - have you found any any downsides yet? I'm not really sure that there are any but it does seem like one of those things you won't really find until you do it. It would be great to be able to vote again as I can't vote in the UK any more and I can't vote here either. Feels weird

As dual US UK citizen, I have recently realized, neither is of much benefit at at the moment. However, I can vote on both sides of the Atlantic while residing in the UK. Perhaps there is a glimmer of hope.
You win some, you loose some and then try to support the majority until you have a chance again but, I've never felt so completely unrepresented before. It's a real eye opener.

@tarquin - have you found any any downsides yet? I'm not really sure that there are any but it does seem like one of those things you won't really find until you do it. It would be great to be able to vote again as I can't vote in the UK any more and I can't vote here either. Feels weird

If Australia goes to war and decides to conscript then you have to go....

You are required to vote and register by law.

If you did decide to leave Australia and come back to the UK you can't get your hands on your superannuation until you're 65. (This is the same for permanent residents though).

I don't think there are any downsides.

We moved back to the UK for the wife's family, but I'm a proud Aussie, make sure it's listed on all forms when it asks for nationality and I would move back tomorrow if I could.

Had my Belgian nationality confirmed in September so less than 3 months after the EU Referendum vote. Been here 10 years now, didn't want to risk not being eligible to continue living and working here. Lots of people's responses (to my getting Belgian nationality) implied that they thought it was a bit OTT to get a 2nd nationality and that "of course Brits will still be able to live and work in the EU"... however nothing to lose if like me you've paid the requisite taxes for at least 5 years. Plus I was worried that - worse case scenario - there might be a point in time where perhaps technically as a Brit I'd no longer be able to be employed. Didn't fancy taking the risk.

No downsides, really, as long as I can keep British citizenship alongside Belgian citizenship it's a win-win.

my dads Irish and had never even considered getting a second passport until Brexit, after all what does an Irish passport offer that a UK one didn't?

24th June ordered all the paperwork and got it sorted.

I don't consider myself English and certainly not Irish.

So what the f*** should i be?

IMO nothing good ever comes of nationalism!

And despite living and working in the UK since the 50's my dad is now one of those EU citizens in limbo land!

I recently took Australian citizenship.

I think I ought to be eligible for an Irish passport and also a
Scottish one should anything ridiculous happen.

The question then would be which side to go Reiveing should the old front open up again.

Rather than adding a nationality, I would rather just revoke my British citizenship. I don't want to be part of it.

I could hold Indian citizenship. Im not sure I want to....

Apart from those EU nations with large landmass the rest will cause claustrophobia ... 😆

You should choose from one with large landmass like ... Spain, France, Germany, Poland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and .... perhaps Ukraine (they want you there).

I was born in Jamaica, of Jamaican roots. My brother recently claimed and obtained Jamaican (dual, with British) nationality due to the fact that his parents were both Jamaican nationals. He has done it for purely financial reasons. He's in the oil industry and as a 'local' he will be better off if he gets a job in the Caribbean. I have not done so but could do if I chose to I suppose.

Back in pre-EU membership days (remember them; you soon will) I knew a family who frequently visited France from deepest, darkest Essex. Dad was British, Mum was French. They had two children who thus qualified for dual nationality. The parents decided that it would be a good thing to ensure that the kids had dual-nationality and thus made certain that it was so. The main reason for this was to try to improve passage through customs/ passport control, they just headed for the shortest queue on their frequent cross channel trips.

Not long after Tony's 18th birthday he was called up by the French military for National Service.

Leffe - no down sides to having dual nationality as yet but taxes can be a pain if you are not careful. We decided to close all our assets in Canada for the time being apart from our pensions.

Also have a OCI (overseas citizen of India) card for India which allows me to invest and also work without a visa etc but it is of scant use from an economic pov for us.

Dual UK Australian citizen, pretty handy as the fiancee is Australian. Only downsides are having to vote or get fined (i don't mind voting but Australian politics is deeply deeply uninspiring).
Fiancee is dual Australian US citizen. Some bigger tax implications and also very expensive to give up if you decide to. The US one can't be passed down any further unless we live in the US as well. Also Trump

What have you got to lose?

I have an Australian birth certificate , British passport.
Thought about it , but never looked into it .As the parts of Oz I saw were less appealing than I'd prefer.Plus ,current problems I hear of,put me off more,even post bloody brexit!

Like a few of the folks on here, I'm a 10y+ Belgian resident hence I do intend to grab a second nationality.

Its on my list of things to do this year, as is get dual British for my kids (who are only Belgian at this moment)

I just don't look forward to the admin....

There was a process to vote from overseas.

As said, there can be tax implications depending on the dual nationality. And yes, the US is a royal pain, very very expensive to revoke. I know a few families split Spanish and British parents and Spain don't formally allow dual nationality over 18, so they're pretty buggered by Brexit. I also know some Northern Irish who have taken an Irish passport. I work in academia so people expect to move for work. It's the uncertainty that is most worrying and I know many people are thinking of getting out of the UK now while there are job options just in case the 'negotiations' don't protect them and then they (and their families) are stuffed.

I have an Australian birth certificate , British passport.
Thought about it , but never looked into it .As the parts of Oz I saw were less appealing than I'd prefer.Plus ,current problems I hear of,put me off more,even post bloody brexit!

Whinging Pom

😀

Starting to look into Swedish citizenship due to Brexit, wasn't before as I didn't see a need.

But seems like a good backup plan now. Everybody needs a backup plan 🙂

@HowsyourDad and Bream, how long did it take?

I was hoping to get an Irish passport but it looks like it may not now be an option.

Maybe Scotland will have a similar rule to Ireland (ie anyone born north or south of border can have a passport). Scotland rejoins EU and for a modest fee we have all have dual nationality.

I've got permanent residency in Japan, not really planning on using it though except for the odd visit. Requires a bit of maintenance so I'll probably lose it in a few more years. Can't see myself moving back long-term even if brexshit goes tits up.

hi Swedish chef, it took around 5 weeks I think. depends on your circumstances of course but I think you are similar to me? Swedish wife/sambo, children born in Sweden? full time job and proficiency with language. not that the kids and job matter. don't quote me on that!

Yup that sums it up nicely. Thanks.

When did you apply?

US one seems the worst - no matter where you live you are still liable to US taxes.
Boris Johnson got hit with a big tax bill when he sold his London home as there is no relief for capital gains on selling your home in the USA. He talked about renouncing his US citizenship but don't think he actually did.

"no relief" is actually $250,000 of relief, double that for a couple. That's probably not enough for MPs flipping houses in London though.

He has repeatedly promised to renounce his citizenship, but we all know how little his word is worth.

Starting to look into Swedish citizenship due to Brexit, wasn't before as I didn't see a need.

I'm quite likely to apply for an Irish passport soon. My Dad was born in Dublin so I think I'm a shoo in, although TBH I haven't really looked into the process yet.

Yeah saw that, thanks.

Having many Swedish friends who have done military service I have no issues with that. Also the headline is somewhat click bait like.

Just to clear up some of the inaccuracies around Irish citizenship mentioned earlier. From the [url= https://www.dfa.ie/passports-citizenship/citizenship/born-abroad/born-abroad-citizenship-by-descent-faqs/ ]Irish Department of Foreign Affairs:[/url]

[b]My Grandad was born in Ireland but neither of my parents have Irish Passports. Am I entitled to apply for Irish citizenship?[/b]
Yes. An application for Irish citizenship through Foreign Births Registration can be submitted by any person with a grandparent born on the island of Ireland even if your parents do not hold Irish passports.

Dual UK/French by birth - as posted above the only downsides :
1/Consular support - if in one of your nationalities you are that one no ifs.
2/ Got my call up papers for national service - deferred as i was in full time education - otherwise I would have had to do it - now this was in the early 80`s no call ups for a long time now.
It all really depends if one of the nationalities does not allow it you have no options anyway.
For tax and residency purposes I thing the 6 months +1 day rule applies .

Edit - Grandfather born in Ireland - so technically I may have option of a 3rd.

Mrsalmon, you will need a copy of your Irish parents birth certificate, a certified copy from Irish records is ok, your own, proof of residence, bills etc. A few signed photos and the right amount of money.

I had to explain to my "generations English" father-in-law the other day that he couldn't just acquire an Irish passport to avoid post-Brexit isolation...!

My grandfather was Swiss. A quick looks tells me I have no chance of that, and it's not especially helpful in the context of the EU.

@Swedishchef I applied in November last year.

I know a few families split Spanish and British parents and Spain don't formally allow dual nationality over 18, so they're pretty buggered by Brexit.

It's more the paperwork that's putting me off! (There's also a language and general knowledge test, but I'm not worried about either of those. Although I'm sure both cost money...)

A few signed photos and the right amount of money

Just submitted my forms for Irish (through a grandparent); and since I'm in Canada I should be eligible for Canadian citizenship in the next few years.

Now I imagine someone at the Irish embassy deciding on what the right amount of money is, depending on whether they like the look of you or not.

You jest

http://www.thejournal.ie/immigrant-investor-programme-2023070-Apr2015/

Seriously, i think the price is about 80 euros for the passport. and a further c40 if you want a plastic card passport.

Funnily enough, having an Irish passport and nationality, I've wondered about going the other way as my Wife and Kids are all UK passport holders, in case it all goes really right wing!

Going the other way and considering a UK citizenship. £1236 at the moment (that's after filling out the 85 page form for a piece of paper 'proving' something I already had i.e. right of permanent residence). This is before Cruela de Vil decides that it is 'people's mandate' to charge the dirty foreigners twice that for the privilege of continuing to live and work in UK. Bitter? Moi?

Still waiting for the process Swedish Chef; will be 8 weeks and counting on Wednesday!

This thread inspired me to kick off the process, so we'll see what happens and how long it will take.

Online form sent in and paid for. Very easy.
Passport sent off registered post. No business trips for a bit then.

There's a very easy passport recal service on their website, says you need to give them 10 days notice, just called mine back and arrived just within the 10 days. Also got a letter saying they don't need it back so that part of it is done now.