Anybody know anything about being stateless

[Statelessness]

Both myself and my husband hold our nationalities by descent meaning we cannot pass either to our children unless they are born in one of the two countries. We live and hold residency in a third country which does not grant citizenship by birth.
We are planning to start a family soon and I will travel either to my country of nationality or his to give birth. Discussing this got me thinking, if we weren't in the position to be able to afford travel or if something goes wrong and I couldn't travel meaning the baby was born in our country of residence what would happen? Would they be officially stateless and how is that resolved.

It very much depends on the countries in question; could you give any more info?

I worked for the Red Cross (UK) in the refugee department a few years ago, and stateless people have a lot of trouble - colleagues spent a lot of time with them. I never did unfortunately, but I'd certainly recommend giving your local Red Cross office a ring and they'll be able to guide you on the best ways to find out and get it sorted if need be.

If your local office has no idea, have them refer you to the Leeds team :)

I am a citizen by descent of New zealand my DH is a citizen by descent of the UK. Thankfully we are in a position where we can afford travel to and private medical expenses in either country to ensure citizenship to one or the other. It just got me thinking about what would happen if we couldn't.

Have you looked into whether you can convert from citizenship by descent, to citizenship by grant? If that's sorted before your child is born you can pass on citizenship.

Some more info here about converting, and if that's not possible how to register child as citizen in their own right

www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/get-or-renew-a-new-zealand-passport/get-your-child-a-new-zealand-passport-when-born-overseas/#what-you-need-to-know

Not sure about the uk, I'd think nz is your best bet!

I you're a resident o the third country, your dc might acquire residency by virtue o the fact that they were born there AND you hold residency.

Same as the UK I think. You don't get residency just by being born here, but you do if your parents have ILR.

I think a lot depends on the rules of the coutry in which you reside plus the visa you hold.
For example, if you are in Australia, and if you hold PR/citizenship, your child will automatically be granted Aus citizenship.

It is complex but look up the rules based on the visa you hold

My DC have Aus citizenship by descent. They need to live in Aus for 2 years in order to pass on citizenship to their DC.

We are currently in Aus, for ateast another 18 months until this has been cleared.

Is that a possibility for NZ or UK?

I vaguely remember that it's a UN convention that every one in the world has to be a citizen of somewhere, so in the rare circumstance that one cannot be obtained through the usual channels, the country with the closest criteria has to confer nationality.

vaguely remember that it's a UN convention that every one in the world has to be a citizen of somewhere, so in the rare circumstance that one cannot be obtained through the usual channels, the country with the closest criteria has to confer nationality.

They don't have to be reasonable though.

The UK's Home Office charges the ruddy earth (over £1000 per person) to grant citizenship to stateless people with ties to Britain (e.g. born in UK to foreign nationals without ILR).

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/may/06/nearly-1000-stateless-children-forced-to-pay-uk-citizenship-fees

Sorry I should've been clearer we are not permanently resident somewhere we are expats who relocate for work every two-four years. Most of the countrys we work in are developing African nations.

The NZ website says I may not be eligible and its probably correct as I have no ties to the country other than my passport (I ended up with citizenship through a complicated manor of events)
In such a situation I think Britain would be the best bet as DP has a lot of family born and resident there and I actually have closer ties to the UK than I do NZ.
Thankfully it's highly unlikely to happen and I will travel to either the UK or NZ earlyish in pregnancy to ensure the baby is born entitled to citizenship.
Scary to realise that in an age of so many people living and working overseas that things are so complicated. It must be very hard for people who dont have the financial privilege I do and therefore have no option but to give birth in the 3rd country.