Downsides to dual nationality?

[Useryuseryuser]

My kids have the chance to apply for dual nationality, the second country (other than the UK) being an EU country where a grandparent was born.

I can see that doing this might be really useful in giving them the chance to live, work and study in the EU.

Just wondering if there are any downsides or potential problems that we need to consider? They don't have to pay tax unless they live in the country for more than 50% of the time.

[AndromedaPerseus]

If you enter the country using its passport you will be treated as a citizen of that country and your other country may not be able or may be unwilling to help you if you are in trouble. Case point being Nazarin Ratcliffe in Iran.

[Kaiserin]

Dual nationals can lose their British nationality if they associate with terrorists.
Not normally a problem, but could become one if the British government of the day suddenly decided to relabel a political protest group (e.g. of the kind popular with ypung people, like ER) as a terrorist organisation.

Otherwise, aside from National Service, must also bear in mind what laws might exist regarding marriage, inheritance, etc. (family law in general) and taxes.

[SimonJT]

I had dual nationality for a while, consulate assitance depends on which passport you choose to travel on.

My boyfriend has dual nationality, it hasn’t caused him any problems. Soon he’ll be an EU citizen and I won’t, so his dual nationality will be a huge advantage.

[Ditheringdooley]

Renewing passports etc is a minor inconvenience for the extra freedom and options another passport (esp EU) gives you.

When in home country, your other nationality won’t be relevant for consular assistance. Depending on the stability of the second nationality country, that may be more or less of a concern. Still pretty unlikely as an issue. May be something you need to declare to travel insurance.

Go for it. Am desperately trying to get my daughter another passport because it’s so valuable/ gives you life options. Who knows what the world/ economy will look like in 20 years when our children want jobs.

[Ditheringdooley]

Newtb- that sounds distressing but I think you need better advice. The proportion that has to be left to children is not the majority and in any case, I think that would only apply to property in France. Your property in the UK would be the subject of a UK will/ UK intestacy rules. This is complicated stuff and you need proper advice.

Also things like power of attorney etc might be relevant.

[Useryuseryuser]

@EmpressoftheMundane i know that about the US. The country my children could apply for citizenship of is not the US, it's an EU country (as per my OP) and they wouldn't be liable for taxes unless they chose to live there for more than 50% of the year. Maybe my post about the US was poorly worded.

[EmpressoftheMundane]

Sorry, fair enough!

[Pachonga]

I’m a British (birth) and Australian (marriage) passport holder and a Permanent Resident of the USA. I’m thinking of giving up my Australian citizenship as I’m now divorced but my kids are both Aussies and I may want to settle there one day, depending on what they do eventually. I say that because I think it’s important families have the same options for where they might want to live in the future, so that’s something to think about.

[Asiama]

I think generally the advantages will outweigh the disadvantages but be aware that some disadvantages may only become apparent later. I know someone who became a dual citizen 20 years ago and only now has he become aware that he needs to pay taxes to the other EU country which he wouldn't need to if he was a UK citizen only.

[Wallywobbles]

I'm a dual national. I have 2 wills which mirror each other but are in French and English and were written concurrently. French assets are left under French law and tax regime Uk assets under UK law. It's tricky to do and advice is expensive but it means neither will is written after the other so hey don't cancel each other out and that each tax authority gets its pound off flesh.
Probate will be long.

[sparklebumfluffybutt]

If it is Ireland you are talking about (you mentioned a grandparent so I wonder if you mean entry into to the FBR) I don't think there are any issues to worry about. I'm British but have lived in Ireland since I was a child and have just got Irish citizenship as well. Loads of people here are dual British/Irish citizens (including my kids). So if it is Ireland I would go for it. If it isn't Ireland I still think having EU citizenship is really valuable but yes, you would want to be mindful of the implications.

[Tr1skel1on]

Again watch out for national service. Apart from that it's great. Only possible downside is if they live abroad and there is a tricky situation it's amazing how quickly countries want someone else to deal with it.

[Smallsteps88]

@Roowig2020

How is it hard to get a brutish passport if you're an NI resident. People I know in NI get a british one because it's cheaper and quicker.

I’m an NI citizen and resident and have had no trouble getting British passports for myself and DC. But none of us have ever had Irish passports which might complicate the process.

[Tr1skel1on]

However the UK foreign office are absolutely fecking useless, regardless if you have a UK passport, so dual nationality with anyone would be a bonus. In my experience with my family if you have any way of using the Irish overseas facilities instead do that

[Merriwicks]

Im also dual, Irish and British. I have both passports. First was British as a kid, cheaper and easier to get for my parents. As an adult got an Irish passport, as i identity as Irish but mainly because visas into African counties i was travelling to were much cheaper on an Irish passport

[Nyclair]

I have dual...UK and another non EU country. No issues, in fact it makes life easier when traveling!

[sergeilavrov]

I don’t speak the language of the country my second nationality (but for 16 years, my only passport) is. This creates havoc at passport control even when I travel with my British passport through that country, as I look quite stereotypical. I travel to dangerous countries sometimes, and being British can put a target on me, so will travel on my second passport.

[jcurve]

No downsides at all to two passports, except you need to think carefully about which passport you enter some countries on.

To be honest, as my other passport is Australian, I’m grateful to have a passport that allows me to live & work freely in the UK as the Australian government has left 100,000 citizens stranded overseas during the Covid crisis. I have always accepted that Australia is culturally xenophobic (not racist! - two different things) but I never dreamt it extended to Australians overseas as well.

[Porseb]

Both the British and Irish passports cost similar to renew.

I find it strange the British Government refused to help Michaela McCollum when they insist that everyone born in NI is automatically British

www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/ni-born-people-are-considered-british-until-they-renounce-citizenship-court-rules-1.4049810

The Good Friday Agreement gave people born in NI (before a specific year) the option to identify as British, Irish or both.

[SheWranglesRugRats]

Atm I go in a different passport queue to DH and kids so I get a five minute break from kid wrangling on long journeys. That is precious.

[movingonup20]

Not all countries allow dual citizenship as adults assuming the U.K. is still outside the eu, my friends had to sort their German one out before Britain left or they had to choose. Check the rules carefully. Dd is us dual nationality and it's a pain

[Useryuseryuser]

Thanks everyone who has replied and given feedback. I've found definitive information that tax and national service are not an issue. The will/probate thing I will get some advice on. Jury seems to be out on whether they might experience issues with British consulate help abroad, comments here balanced between +and - though the ones from people with actual experience seem to be the more +

Lots to think about. Kids v unlikely to use their other nationality or hold passport until they are adults themselves so we would not travel as a family under different passports.

[DGRossetti]

I have dual nationality (Italian/UK) and haven't noticed any downsides yet.

I'm old enough to have done National Service in Italy (and I'm curious as to what countries still have it ?) but a quick trip to the consulate when I was 18 meant they took me off the register (as the nice lady said to me, rather bemused ... "Why on earth do you think you'd have to do national service ? You do live in England after all. I only mention that because I notice a certain cockwombling MP recently claimed he had to "give up" his Italian citizenship or be forced to do national service.)

Every so often you get voting slips from your commune - I voted only a couple of weeks ago.

I guess there is a downside of having to engage with another countries bureaucracy ... in their language.