Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

What's best dual passport or Irish

59 replies

feckingknackered · 01/10/2022 19:26

My family are Irish and live in Ireland, I was born in England and live in UK. I want to change my passport, what are the differences, advantages or disadvantages of either a dual nationality passport or an Irish one?

OP posts:
AsterixInEngland · 01/10/2022 20:33

feckingknackered · 01/10/2022 20:29

@RedRed20 could I apply for a new British one in the future though if needed rather than wasting money in the meantime
?

Yes if you keep your British citizenship.

You do nit have to have a valid passport to keep your citizenship.

DownNative · 01/10/2022 20:34

feckingknackered · 01/10/2022 20:28

@teezletangler just get an Irish passport instead of British. Would that mean I'm renouncing uk citizenship? I'm really grateful for all this advice, I don't want to do the wrong thing!

No, the Republic of Ireland doesn't require you to renounce British citizenship in the same way the United Kingdom doesn't require people to renounce their Irish citizenship.

If eligible, you can have both.

Original poster
feckingknackered · 01/10/2022 20:36

Thank you all again for your advice, you've really clarified it for me. I'm going to get my Irish passport now, will renew British one when it expires in two years and will register the children as foreign births.

OP posts:
teezletangler · 01/10/2022 20:36

No, you're not renouncing British citizenship by getting an Irish passport and not renewing your UK one.

But a passport is a really handy document for demonstrating citizenship when needed, you could possibly be making life a bit more difficult by not holding a UK one. You can always get one again in the future.

VroomVrooom · 01/10/2022 20:37

Why wouldn’t you also have a UK passport?

If you holiday in Europe, or indeed the rest of the world, wouldn’t it be easier and faster to come through customs of the country you live in with the right passport?

If you come into the UK from France with an EU passport, you’ll have to queue.

teezletangler · 01/10/2022 20:38

Just saw your update. That sounds like the best plan OP.

Bramshott · 01/10/2022 20:39

DH and the DDs are dual citizens. DH has just had an Irish passport for many years with no problems. With the DDs we've said we'll get them their first adult UK passport (in addition to the Irish one) and after that it's up to them. A few things are easier if you have UK passport - applying for a driving licence is the big one. And may be easier for them if they're showing to employers who may not all realise that an Irish passport confers the right to work in the UK.

Original poster
feckingknackered · 01/10/2022 20:40

@Bramshott great points, thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
feckingknackered · 01/10/2022 20:42

@VroomVrooom aren't people with British passports made to queue now due to brexit anyway? (Genuine question, not being arsey)

OP posts:
belleager · 01/10/2022 20:43

I have lived in the UK for years and the only time not having a British passport affected me was one someone wanted me to sign for their passport. Have to have a British one for that.

Irish passport card (use as ID and for journeys in Europe, no hassle if lost) is a fantastic thing. Irish passport gets you into EU with no hassle. Then it gets you back into UK with no hassle.

Having a passport has no effect on your citizenship. If you ever need a British passport you'll be able to get it. I wouldn't bother until then.

UrsulaPandress · 01/10/2022 20:44

Anyone who gives up their British passport is mad.

Cautiouselectric · 01/10/2022 20:44

@feckingknackered your children aren’t eligible for Irish citizenship unless you are Irish before their birth. Sorry. Though I suppose that they can apply for citizenship through grandparents, not through you, which makes it more expensive etc.
i did this a couple of years ago as needed to keep freedom of movement but it turns out easier to stay in Europe and get German citizenship for them than bother with the Irish.

Original poster
feckingknackered · 01/10/2022 20:45

@belleager that's all great to know, thank you

OP posts:
VroomVrooom · 01/10/2022 20:45

I mean coming back into the UK.

If you’re coming home, wouldn’t it be easier to come in on your home country passport, rather than an EU one?

I have British citizenship (and a British passport), but haven’t been to the UK since the passports changed.

My DC have triple citizenship - we will always continue to maintain all three.

belleager · 01/10/2022 20:46

VroomVrooom · 01/10/2022 20:37

Why wouldn’t you also have a UK passport?

If you holiday in Europe, or indeed the rest of the world, wouldn’t it be easier and faster to come through customs of the country you live in with the right passport?

If you come into the UK from France with an EU passport, you’ll have to queue.

Not with an Irish passport.

They are the double agents of the passport world - European in Europe, British in Britain

VroomVrooom · 01/10/2022 20:48

Thanks @belleager

Onceuponatimeinalandfaraway · 01/10/2022 21:02

I’ve always had a U.K. passport because. Was cheaper and easier than the Irish one. I’ll be replacing it with Irish next time

SnowdaySewday · 01/10/2022 21:03

You may well get a British passport renewal through more quickly than an initial Irish passport from outside of the island of Ireland.

WorriedMutha · 01/10/2022 21:15

I've got both but won't be arsed to renew my British one when it expires. I've had no problems travelling on an Irish passport. My daughter's British one has already expired and she's been fine with Irish only. I also recently renewed her Irish passport for her first adult one online and it arrived in 6 days.
Those who say keep the British one as well haven't given a single reason as to why. Why? An extra expense for nothing.

Clymene · 01/10/2022 21:57

I would absolutely have both. There's no detriment to have dual nationality but there may always be one of having a single nationality.

I was eligible for dual several years ago, didn't bother because I was British and now I'm kicking myself.

You never know what's going to happen

belleager · 01/10/2022 22:09

Clymene · 01/10/2022 21:57

I would absolutely have both. There's no detriment to have dual nationality but there may always be one of having a single nationality.

I was eligible for dual several years ago, didn't bother because I was British and now I'm kicking myself.

You never know what's going to happen

Yes, I would stick with dual nationality too if I had it but the OP will have dual nationality anyway. She's just talking about not renewing her British passport. She'll still be British.

emmathedilemma · 01/10/2022 22:11

UrsulaPandress · 01/10/2022 20:44

Anyone who gives up their British passport is mad.

Why? You’d be still be eligible for one if you wanted it in the future.

sashagabadon · 01/10/2022 22:16

Get both. I have both with different expiry dates so I always have an in date passport. It’s not exactly a massive expense every 10 years to renew both. My kids have both too.
mostly I use my British passport and have no trouble getting into Europe or elsewhere and home again.

TheLadyofShalott1 · 01/10/2022 22:23

My Granddad was born in the USA (late 19thC ) when his British parents were there on a two year business exchange. They could have got him dual nationality but they didn't. I wish they had.

If you can qualify for two passports then I would definitely get both, none of us know (or can even attempt to know these days) what the future holds, so I would have 5 different passports if I could - I'm just not sure how to qualify for them!

Seahorsesfly · 01/10/2022 22:26

Get both. My mum uses Irish for European travel on her own and UK for family travel. It's a huge bonus having an EU passport.