To ask - if you suddenly found you could apply for an EU passport, would you apply and would you move?

[Peasbewithyou]

I am British but have found out that I am likely eligible for an EU (Italian) passport (due to Italian ancestry) and therefore my children will also be eligible.

Before BREXIT I hadn’t really thought about it but last night I was idly wondering whether I should actually apply for it and if we could move. I quite like the idea of a big adventure. I didn’t grow up in the UK and also loved abroad as a young adult. I loved living abroad as a kid. I learnt a new language (sadly not Italian) and I think got a bit of a different perspective on the world.

But of course as an adult with a mortgage and kids and a career it’s all a bit of a different kettle of fish! I suspect it will probably be much too difficult to contemplate!

So, I’m curious to hear what others would do!

YABU - no I would stay put
YANBU - Bye! I’m off as soon as the passport hits the doormat.

Lived abroad! Not loved!

I should also say this is all slightly pie in the sky thinking as I don’t even know for sure I’d get the passport!

Yes, I would.

Chances are your children may not be able to also get the citizenship depending on what route you get your citizenship. I recently got Irish citizenship but my children are not eligible as they were already born when I became a citizen. I know nothing about Italian citizenship though.

I got the citizenship/ passport to give me some options but wouldn’t move abroad. I have previously lived in France and loved it but wouldn’t uproot my family now.

I wouldn't be able to move because I have shared custody of my children here, but I'd apply for an EU passport in a heartbeat. My DH is from mainland Europe and often teases me now that he'll have a much easier time in the airport than I will moving forward. Our baby son is entitled to one and we'll absolutely be getting him one.

I wouldn't necessarily move, but I would be looking into getting an EU passport for myself and my children in your position.

My DH is from a European country and so both he and my children have 2 passports. I did look into whether I could also get a passport from the country my DH is from, but we'd have to live there for a while first.

I believe at least for my children, it will give them options later in life to work and study in the EU if they wish.

I would have the passport straight away. Depending on what medical treatment it allowed me, I might then retire there.

I investigated in 2016 and found my French ancestors were not close enough relatives.

I would get the passport! I’m so upset that mine will no longer be EU in 4 days time.

I'd apply for the passport at least. Like a pp said though, there's a high chance that your children won't be eligible unless you move and live there for long enough, usually if it's by ancestry like that it can only go for one generation (to prevent one grandfather from a given country generating hundreds of foreign 'ctizens' over the subsequent years)

I'm an EU citizen living in Britain. No plans to relocate on my EU passport anytime soon!

I need to register myself as a foreign born Irish national. My children are also eligible for Irish passports under the grandparent rule. I want them to have the option of free movement in Europe. I wouldn't move them though. Not at this stage.

How is your Italian? My friend recently parked her plans to apply for an Italian passport (father was Italian but died when she was a baby) because you have to sit the citizenship test in Italian and although she has been having lessons it would take far too much time to get to an acceptable level...

@Iliketeaagain and @Stego

Look at the EU rules re travelling with an EU spouse, you may find them useful eg with regard to the 90 day rule.

I have an EU, as well as a British passport. I lived in many countries before settling in the UK and I'm happy here now. However I would not give up my EU passport. If I didn't have it, I'd be looking for any opportunity to get one.

As mentioned above, your Italian has to be pretty good to sit the citizenship exam. It's not easy but doable!

I wouldn’t necessarily move but DH (half Italian) is applying for an Italian passport and then me and the DC will get them too.

I am applying for myself and DC at the moment - I have no intention of moving but I want to give the DC the same options for living and studying abroad that they had before Brexit. DH isn’t eligible, so we won’t move, but I have to apply in order for the kids to apply, so three of us will end up with dual citizenship.

We can apply for Irish passports and I probably will, but I have no plans to move anywhere.

I have 2 EU passports and live in one of those countries. I wouldn’t hesitate to at least get the passport

Yes

I’d apply for the passport.

My siblings and I were gutted to discover our Irish link was too tenuous.

I’ve been a worker since school and was going to retire early to travel & live abroad. It’s not going to be nearly so easy to do that now.

Grr.

I'd apply for the passport in a heartbeat and do whatever it took to get it - intensive lessons in Italian, whatever. It'd be a lifeline.

If I was in a life position to move I'd probably do that as well.

Yes I would.

Yes I'd apply in a heartbeat. No grounds too, sadly, unless I divorce DH and find an EU husband which at my age is unlikely!!! Anyway, I still love DH so I'm stumped

My DH got an Irish passport a couple of years ago.
We are hoping to move permanently to Spain in around 4 years time

I'm too old in the tooth to move but I'd love the passport. And I would love to live in Denmark - great place, great people- though the language is hard I think.

I have an Irish passport. My dc also have Irish passports. They have British passports too but is there much point in renewing? I'm not sure anymore....