Dual nationality = dual passport?

[rifling]

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.

Yes! There are no papers! Without meaning to derail the thread too much, do you show your settled status page or code at passport control?

I've not been abroad since Brexit and wonder whether it would make travelling easier if the DC had a British passport.

@Argh2022

Why don't you try google before accusing people of making things up?

www.gov.uk/indefinite-leave-to-remain

And there are definitely 'papers'. My mum who is fully French has them ffs. I had to help her fill them in and she has to carry them when travelling to prove she has the right to live in the UK.

I don't have one for the country I was born in, so now I'm not allowed back as I can't travel there on my British one.

For the derailment, currently all you need is your EU passport to enter the UK & stay.
From the government website:

You cannot use an EU, EEA or Swiss national ID card to enter the UK unless you:

-have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man’s settlement schemes
-have an EU Settlement Scheme family permit, or the equivalent from Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man
-have a frontier worker permit
-are an S2 Healthcare Visitor
-are a Swiss national and have a Service Provider from Switzerland visa

In these cases, you can continue to use your national ID card to enter the UK until at least 31 December 2025

Link:

www.gov.uk/guidance/visiting-the-uk-as-an-eu-eea-or-swiss-citizen#what-you-can-bring-into-the-uk

You prove your nationality by your birth certificate. For example, if you were born in the UK before 1983 then you are British. That's the law, and it is established by your birth certificate. You acquire a passport by proving that you are British using your birth certificate.

At immigration control you are expected to have a passport. But ultimately if it can be established that you are British (by your birth certificate for example, and other types of ID) then you legally have a "right of abode" in the UK and will be admitted. It will just be a pain in the arse!

Many people without passports need to prove their nationality. Eg to vote in UK elections you need to be British. You don't have to have a passport though.

You prove your nationality by your birth certificate.
I was specifically told, when I called up to check with the registry office, that a British birth certificate is not proof of nationality. I also didn't believe it when someone told me which is why I called to check.

DH and the DC have joint British & Irish citizenship and at present DH and DC2 only have Irish passports. They were both born in the UK though so they can show a birth certificate as ID in the UK if needed. I got DC1 a new UK passport when they could have an adult 10 year one and will do the same for DC2. After the 10 years are up it's up to them if they want to renew or not. It is becoming more common to have to show a passport to confirm your entitlement to things (to work for one) so I suspect DH may have to bite the bullet and get a new UK one at some point.

I have just travelled to the UK on my EU passport - haven't had a valid UK one for years. Not a problem at all. The man at immigration asked if I had dual-nationality and I replied that I did but didn't have a valid British passport any more. End of story

Plenty of British people born in the UK don't have a passport because they have never travelled. They are still British though

I wonder how the passport office decide whether to issue a British passport then

I wonder how the passport office decide whether to issue a British passport then

I also wonder this! It makes no sense whatsoever. I asked how the decided if a child was entitled to a passport. They said that you have to put the parents' passport details on the application form - but that doesn't make sense because what if the parents don't have a passport?
Mine is lapsed and they said I need to renew it if I want a document to prove I'm British

Unless you're travelling on an Irish passport (in which case you have right of abode in the UK due to the Common-Travel Area) or a Cypriot one (in which case different rules again apply) then you are definitely NOT safe relying on your EU passport. EU passport holders need leave to enter, which can be refused.

My dh only has an EU passport and had no trouble re-entering UK last month from France via the euro tunnel. Presumably his settled status popped up on the database as they asked no further questions.

however, the same official did not like our dc travelling back into UK on their EU passports and asked to see their UK passports which we also had with us.

Based on this experience, we will keep both UK and EU passports for dc.

I think what they mean is that a birth certificate saying Fuming Parent was born in Middlesex in 1916 () is definitely proof that Fuming Parent is British under the law. But you having that bit of paper does not prove that you are Fuming Parent. So some more proof of your ID is required to show that you are that British citizen.

I am a dual citizen. I travelled recently, post naturalisation but before I got the chance to get my UK passport. I was asked for my passport or naturalisation document at the UK Border or at least some proof that I have a right to live and work here.

I think as the uk passport lasts 10 years you may as well keep renewing it.

From the .gov website:

"You’ll need your full birth certificate or adoption certificate and either:

your mother’s or father’s full UK birth certificate, or the Home Office certificate of registration or naturalisation, or a British passport belonging to one of your parents that was valid when you were born, or a British passport number for either parent

evidence of one of your parents’ immigration status in the UK at the time of your birth, for example a foreign passport belonging to one of your parents that was valid when you were born

If you send documents relating to your father, you must also send your parents’ marriage certificate."

Ergo..... being born in the UK doesn't automatically mean one is British.

I am dual national (born British but in a EEA country and acquired the passport of that country, when I was 13).
I travel for work and the last few times, customs have questioned and asked to see the British passport too, every time I re-enter. In fact the questioning has been relatively detailed (both at airport, Eurostar terminals etc). On that basis, I am going to keep renewing both. I did it during Covid times due to the extra rights you had to enter if you were a national of a certain country.
Not sure what would happen if I didn’t have the UK one on me (the EEA country is far more relaxed). I would just state I am dual national. Not sure if they can look something up on a database. However, because my EEA passport does not have an indefinite leave stamp, I am not going to risk it.

How often do you plan to travel?

There is something called an endorsement you can get so you don’t have to have more than one. Iirc you send your other National documents off with the passport you want to have and it’s added in there. I have yet to do it, 2 of my D.C. have 3 nationalities. It’s a pain, might work it out this year as their passports have all expired

It depends when you were born. The law changed on 31/12/1982. But if you were born before that date then your birth certificate alone proves that you are British.

or a British passport belonging to one of your parents that was valid when you were born,
so I need to keep my lapsed passport in case either of my DC want to apply for a British passport in the future? Their British born overseas birth certificate won't be enough?

I live in France have FR passport & UK passport.
Recently left from Zurich to fly to London with my UK Passport, when asked where I lived, I said France, I had to prove my right to return to Shengen zone.
Fortunately had my FR ID card
Was told I needed proof of residence to return.
Perhaps I could have said I live in UK ?

I'm Irish and have previously had both an Irish and UK passport. The UK one has now lapsed and I haven't bothered renewing it, I can't see the point.

I don't really get this. You flew from Zurich to London and your UK passport alone was not enough to allow you to enter the UK when you got off the plane??