Double nationality for DCs born in Spain to British mother?

[Shitemum]

I am British and hold a British passport. My 2 DDs were born in Spain where we live and currently hold Spanish passports. They are eligible for British passports and it seems that as far as Britain is concerned they would not have to give up their Spanish nationality or the Spanish passports if I apply for British passports while we are still living in Spain.

Has anyone done this?

I want to know if Spain will require them to give up their Spanish passports if we apply for British ones? Will the Spanish authorities even know that we have applied for them?

Thanks

[Cies]

Bumping for you, I want to know the answer too!

[ItsNotOnlyTheGoodBits]

Have a Spanish friend who is married to an English man. Their two children were born here and hold both UK and Spanish passports.

[Shitemum]

Hmm.
I think it's possible that if you get one of the passports first and then the other it's better than if you do it the other way round iyswim
The British passport website says the Uk doesnt object to people having more than one nationality or passport but I can't find a similar declaration on the Spanish sites...

[macaco]

As far as I know you just apply for both and neither country asks about the other country so you just have both passports, without it ever being "actual" dual nationality.
DS (me english, DH Spanish) has a UK passport and at some we'll apply for a spanish one too.

[violeta]

As far as I understand it, Britain allows dual nationality but Spain does not. The British authorities aren't interested in whether anyone has another passport, but the Spanish authorities only recognise that someone is Spanish, even though they may hold another passport. You can hold both passports until you are 18 in Spain, but you are then expected to relinquish the British one (assuming you are living in Spain).

Best not to offer any information at the moment - I applied for a British passport for my daughter and my Spanish partner went to the Spanish embassy in London to get one. They didn't ask him anything about another passport and he didn't offer the information either. We use both of them interchangeably travelling to Spain and back without any problems.

[macaco]

violeta has said (so much more eloquently) what I was trying to say.

[Shitemum]

Ok, so if the DDs already have Spanish passports and the UK doesnt object to multiple passports or nationalities then we should be ok.
It says on the British passport website that I'd have to send in any existing passports with the application but persumably they'll send them back...

Thanks, it's so confusing.

[AngusSteaknife]

I agree with what others have said about dual nationality and British passports.

But I would check the British website again, my understanding was that you would only need to send any existing British passports.

Also be aware that the fee for the passport is now for processing the application rather than issuing the passport. So if there is a mistake on your application then you are still charged the full amount.

There is a number to call that can answer your questions, don't call the UK service, call the dedicated overseas service.

[MrsMcJnr]

Ladies can I crash and ask another question? my 2nd child will be born here in Spain. Even though DH and I are married and I use his surname, can my DD still have both his surname and my maiden name? My DS was born in Scotland and we gave him my maiden name as a middle name but are hoping that DD can have her name the Spanish way with two surnames also would that cause an issue for obtaining a Bristish passport? thanks!

[costamum]

MrsMcJnr...both my kids were born in Spain and have my husband´s surname and my maiden name but this was because we used my maiden name on the birth certificate ..so they were registered like that...otherwise they´d have been registered with my husband´s surname twice..it nearly happened the first time round...but we managed to change the doctor´s certificate at the hospital...so bear that in mind !

They also have British passports with husband´s surname and my maiden name.... no problem there.

[MrsMcJnr]

Thanks, that's what I was worried might happen (husband's surname twice!) which Costa are you on?

[jkklpu]

Shitemum and Angus SK - yes, it's only other UK passports they're interested in (they return old ones cancelled for renewals) but for 1st passports, this obviously doesn't apply.

As well as passports, the British embassy can also provide a UK-style birth certificate for foreign-born British children if you want, which means you can get copies in later life if needed from General Records office website. You don't NEED this by any means, but have a look at ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-spain/how-register-birth for the details.

[Shitemum]

MrsMcJnr - you should be aware that in Spain the father's surname goes first and the mother's second so if he is Smith and you are Jyour DC2 will be 'DC2 Smith Jones'. If your first child has your maiden name as a middle name they will be 'DC1 Jones Smith'. So your Dc will effectively have different surnames. The only way round this is to try and register DC2 with your surname as a middle name too and only one surname - the father's. Am not sure how the Spanish regitrar will take that.
Fwiw I am constantly being refered to as Mrs Mymiddlename as I 'only' have one surname and so they think my middle name is my first surname...sigh

[Shitemum]

'and you are Jones' not J

[Steaknife]

(Angus SK here - twas all dressed up for Burns night)

Oh the names - the Spanish totally confused by us lot.

I have not changed from my maiden to married name, DH has a hyphenated first name but no middle name, I have no middle name, baby has no middle name.

They couldn't get their heads round it all, we were all first name - unknown - last name.

I haven't registerd baby's birth with UK yet but will do, I was told it was less hassle if you ever return to live in UK.

We are now in France so a whole new set of paperwork to deal with.

[Cies]

BTW I have heard from Spanish friends that it is possible to register your child's surnames in any order you like. It is more COMMMON to have Father's surname Mother's surname, but it is POSSIBLE to put them the other way round. I imagine you would do this when you register the birth.

[Shitemum]

Cies - That's good to know.

[costamum]

MrsMcJnr - I was on the costa del Sol but have now moved to Seville!! Havent changed my name yet!!

[macaco]

Cies I have a friend who did that as the mother is Spansih and the father American and they felt it was easier for the DS to have a Spanish name as his first and main surname.

MrsMcJnr did you find a name you liked in the end for DD? How far along are you now?