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Original poster

Dual nationality = dual passport?

61 replies

rifling · 14/05/2022 11:24

Just wondered for those who have dual nationality, is it really necessary to have BOTH passports? I have an EU passport and a UK one and live in the EU. The UK one is trickier to renew and more expensive. Can I just renew the EU one or is there a risk that Pritti Patel will cut me off??! I've read that you should take both passports to travel but I am not sure that is actually true. I have travelled just on my UK passport without any problems. As it's not just me but the kids too, I would rather save money but not sure if it actually a bad idea. Thanks.

OP posts:
BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 14/05/2022 11:34

I have dual nationality (Irish and UK) and have never held a UK passport. I think there is a rule that you should enter the UK with your UK passport if you have one, but since I don't have one I don't worry about it.

MadameFantabulosa · 14/05/2022 11:37

If you travel to U.K. on your EU passport, unless it is an Irish one, you’ll be subject to immigration controls and only allowed in for 6 months. You could take an expired U.K. passport with you, and see what the immigration officer says (probably “get it renewed”!)

alwaysontheloo · 14/05/2022 12:34

I have dual nationality and recently travelled to France on my French passport. Coming back the UK customs official asked me if I had my papers to show my right to remain and I said no I had my British passport with me. He told me I must always carry both when travelling and to make sure I don't let my British passport lapse because then I might have problems. He said he was telling everyone who held both passports so they didn't run into problems post Brexit.

Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov · 14/05/2022 12:38

Surely it's your nationality that determines your right to remain and not just your passport? I don't actually have a clue mind

Jaxhog · 14/05/2022 12:42

I have dual nationality (British and Canadian). I have to have 2 passports, as Canada won't let me in without one, and it's complicated to arrive in the UK without a British passport as I live here.

Your passport only really affects traveling to and fro. It's a good idea to have a passport for your permanent residence for ID purposes. Having a passport makes no difference to your right to remain.

Sapphirensteel · 14/05/2022 13:00

You don’t have to have a passport to prove your nationality. My passport expired in first lockdown so I’ve not bothered renewing it. I’m still a British National though.
An EU passport means you can stay in Europe as long as you want, whereas Brits can only stay 180 days in a year due to Brexit. So a EU passport is very useful.

alwaysontheloo · 15/05/2022 19:36

@Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov yes your passport means you don't need right to remain papers. My mum is French and lives in UK and now has to have Right to Remain papers when she travels (thank you Brexiteers...) The official asked me originally for papers and I said I didn't need them because I hold a British passport. I worded it a bit funny, sorry Grin

@Sapphirensteel yes absolutely although it's still very important to maintain both passports (if you hold them) and not let them lapse. The official was very clear on that when we went through border control. Emphatic in fact. It was a bit weird really.

I'm wondering if post Brexit there is something rumbling that will see us having to choose one of the other. A few years ago I'd have said no way but after the last few years anything is possible!

alwaysontheloo · 15/05/2022 19:38

And they stamped my DH British passport in and out so he is very much on a timer now for how long her can stay there. We have a house there so it's a real bastard we can't stay as long as we like (again thank you Brexiteers) so he's going to take French nationality which he can now we have been married more than 7 years.

Argh2022 · 15/05/2022 20:37

WTF are “right to remain papers”?! Pretty sure that’s not a real thing, so what do you mean?

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/05/2022 20:39

I'm dual. I have both. I used to just have one but it's getting trickier and less friendly all over.

Original poster
rifling · 15/05/2022 20:46

Thanks everyone. This sort of confirms what I have been told and yet I cannot find any official document that says you must have both! My children don't have full British citizenship (can't remember what it's called but they were born abroad so not the same as me) and I don't want to risk messing things up for them so I'll probably suck it up and keep the UK passports. So expensive though especially now you have to send them all by courier separately! My Italian passport was ready in a week too whereas my mum's UK passport took months! Oh well.

OP posts:
Original poster
rifling · 15/05/2022 20:49

Argh2022 · 15/05/2022 20:37

WTF are “right to remain papers”?! Pretty sure that’s not a real thing, so what do you mean?

It's the proof that you have the right to remain in the country. I had this for Italy before getting citizenship. Otherwise, thanks to Brexit, the time you can spend in the EU (or in the UK for EU citizens) is limited. Another Brexit bonus!

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LauraNicolaides · 15/05/2022 20:53

I cannot find any official document that says you must have both!

The whole point of brexit (in the minds of many of its supporters) was to stop foreigners from being able to live in the UK easily. So if you regularly enter the UK on an Italian passport it should be fairly obvious that you'll have more trouble than if you enter with a UK passport.

alexdgr8 · 15/05/2022 20:53

Argh2022 · 15/05/2022 20:37

WTF are “right to remain papers”?! Pretty sure that’s not a real thing, so what do you mean?

if you don't know what they are, how can you be so sure that they are not a real thing.
how can you be so proud of and belligerent about your own ignorance ?

Wallywobbles · 15/05/2022 20:57

We never let either run out.

Original poster
rifling · 15/05/2022 21:03

LauraNicolaides · 15/05/2022 20:53

I cannot find any official document that says you must have both!

The whole point of brexit (in the minds of many of its supporters) was to stop foreigners from being able to live in the UK easily. So if you regularly enter the UK on an Italian passport it should be fairly obvious that you'll have more trouble than if you enter with a UK passport.

But what is that trouble? A border agent looking at us funny? If I can prove that I am a British citizen (which I can) does it actually matter that I have an Italian passport? Even if they stamp our passports, it isn't actually valid if you are a British citizen. I doubt we would reach the maximum number of days anyway - we don't have that much holiday to spare!

OP posts:
imasurvivor2 · 15/05/2022 21:09

I have just got my 1st British passport although born here as I always use my EU passport. I recently came back to Heathrow and used my EU passport (& DCs EU passports as I haven't got them UK ones). I showed my EU one and they asked how long I was staying for. I said I lived here and he asked for my right to remain. I said I was a dual national so didn't need it. I had my Uk passport and asked what would happen if I didn't happen to have it with me. He said I'd be taken into a room and questioned and they'd have to do checks which would take half an hour. He said it was quicker for me to carry the UK one to avoid delays at border control but strictly I didn't have to have one. He said to get my DC one too - but I don't want to waste money and figure if they see my UK one it's obvious my DC are British too.

Original poster
rifling · 15/05/2022 21:18

I guess that's my answer! I don't really want to be interrogated. Maybe it is easier the other way round (e.g. have a UK passport rather than an Italian one) because Italian citizenship is easier to prove with the ID card.

OP posts:
Ilovehatecleaning · 15/05/2022 21:20

I too wonder what right to remain papers are. I'm an EU national and have lived here most of my life. After Brexit I applied for permanent residency. I got it but there's nothing physical to show. Think it all exists on their database. I hope so, as I'm leaving the UK for a holiday for the first time since Brexit and would like to get back in. Sorry for derailing the thread.

LauraNicolaides · 15/05/2022 21:20

rifling · 15/05/2022 21:03

But what is that trouble? A border agent looking at us funny? If I can prove that I am a British citizen (which I can) does it actually matter that I have an Italian passport? Even if they stamp our passports, it isn't actually valid if you are a British citizen. I doubt we would reach the maximum number of days anyway - we don't have that much holiday to spare!

Show quote history

As an EU national you have a right to enter other EU states. You don't need permission from the immigration officers. All they can check is that your passport or ID card is valid.

After brexit you (and most foreigners) now need "leave to enter" the UK- in other words permission which can be refused. You don't have a right to enter. The permission can be refused because you've exceeded your maximum number of days. But it can be refused for other reasons. For example they don't believe you're coming on holiday, they think you're coming to work. Or they are not convinced that your accommodation plans are adequate while you're here. Or all sorts of other things.

Having a UK passport avoids any problems by giving you a "right of abode". And trying to prove British nationality by means other than a passport at immigration control is not ideal.

Original poster
rifling · 15/05/2022 21:24

Thank you. You have all convinced me that, despite the cost, I really should keep up both passports. So I have an additional question related to this: DS17 is going to the UK in a few weeks' time. He has a flight booked with his Italian passport details. I guess he should take his UK passport too?

OP posts:
worriedparent12 · 15/05/2022 21:38

It's so tough for people like us. I have two passports as well and since Brexit everything has become so much more difficult and hostile.

clearwatermakesmehappy · 15/05/2022 21:44

Ok, we're in a similar position to you guys. My kids are duel national Italian British. I'm awaiting my citizenship so travel with British passport. When we travel to uk I often use the kids' Italian passport because it has parents' names on it, whereas British one doesn't and because I don't have husband's name, sometimes uk border control makes a fuss, but that was more so when they were little ones.
Italian Borden control also likes citizens to leave using Italian passport. I don't think it matters too much which passport you use to book under as long as you have that one with you to show if needed. Uk border will only check passport, not the ticket. I'd give son both when travelling to Uk.

DramaAlpaca · 15/05/2022 21:50

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 14/05/2022 11:34

I have dual nationality (Irish and UK) and have never held a UK passport. I think there is a rule that you should enter the UK with your UK passport if you have one, but since I don't have one I don't worry about it.

This applies to my children too. We got them Irish passports originally even though we lived in the UK at the time because they were cheaper Grin Now they are adults and post-Brexit they are happy enough with just their Irish passports even though they are entitled to a British one too.

FumingParent · 15/05/2022 22:14

You don’t have to have a passport to prove your nationality.
How can you prove your (British) nationality without one? I was told this isn't possible. My DC have a birth certificate stating they are British through me because they were born abroad but my birth certificate (UK) is not proof that I am British.