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Brexit
Original poster

"Cashing in" your EU citizenship ?

52 replies

BrummieRemainer · 10/03/2017 14:56

Well, despite having had it available to me since birth (196x), I never really gave my other nationality a thought. Naively assuming that being British and European were interchangeable.

But since 23rd June last year, spurred on by hearing "jokes" about my |(obviously Italian) surname that I hadn't heard since the 70s, I decided to make a stand, and actually get my second passport.

With amazing efficiency, once I had filled the form in online, and with a 90 minute wait and 5 minute interview, my passport was printed the day after, and dispatched within a week. (I'm still waiting for my UK passport which was sent off the same day Smile).

Anyway, has anyone else here been moved to apply for their second citizenship as a result of Brexit ?

It was very much a symbolic gesture. For various reasons I'm unlikely to emigrate. But I refuse to let a bunch of xenophobic (the number of times of late my DF84 has been told to fuck off home Angry) louts bully me out of my birthright.

OP posts:
LadyMaryofDownt0n · 11/03/2017 20:36

Ah the Irish are getting the brunt of the vote... their not keen on people having Irish passports if their not actually Irish by birth. Or if you don't live here permanently.

I know from experience, lived here a few years now but still very much classed as an outsider Blush

PoundlandUK · 11/03/2017 20:37

I bet Nicola Sturgeon will be handing them out to Scottish descendants if independence goes through for them and they remain in EU.

Birdandsparrow · 11/03/2017 20:42

You can't pound, I'll technically renounce my uk citizenship, but what are my options? My life is here, I have two Spanish kids, a Spanish husband, a business, a house. I can't risk my status suddenly changing cos I'm no longer European.

EssentialHummus · 11/03/2017 20:46

nats yes, there were mumblings yesterday - see link near bottom of previous page.

SapphireStrange · 12/03/2017 12:34

Yes I know what they mean, and they are factually wrong

That doesn't follow. Confused Can you explain?

peukpokicuzo · 12/03/2017 12:51

I've been thinking about this. I believe I technically have the right to citizenship of an eastern European country - one that I know nothing about and have never been to. I have mixed feelings about it though. When there are thousands of people from that country who have built lives in the UK and who are net contributors to our economy and society who are being threatened with expulsion to a land they left decades ago. It feels a bit insensitive to be claiming kinship with them selfishly in order to be allowed the best of both worlds personally.

Birdandsparrow · 12/03/2017 13:14

I have an Irish parent so can apply for an Irish passport. Will probably do that as Spanish citizenship takes years to process and may not come through before Brexit.

Original poster
BrummieRemainer · 16/03/2017 12:13

Well, both passports (UK and Italian) arrived in the same post today. Which you can make of what you will.

Now to work on finalising my DPs citizenship by marriage ...

OP posts:
PoundlandUK · 16/03/2017 18:04

Congratulations OP that is good news. I hop all goes OK with your DPs application too.

Costacoffeeplease · 16/03/2017 18:15

Irish citizenship got, passport applied for

I live in another eu country

Birdandsparrow · 16/03/2017 19:37

Costa, my mother was born in belfast but only ever had a UK passport. I was born in the UK, do you know if I can simply apply for an irish passport, or do I have to register on the register of foreign births first?

Costacoffeeplease · 16/03/2017 19:43

If you have an Irish born parent you automatically have citizenship, I believe, so you should be able to go straight for a passport

My grandfather was born in Donegal but my father and I in scotland, so I had to go for the foreign birth register first

Birdandsparrow · 16/03/2017 20:27

That's what I thought, but then read other things and wasn't so sure. I might try and ring an embassy or something (I'm in Spain).

BigChocFrenzy · 16/03/2017 23:50

If the associate EU citizenship becomes available, I'll go for that.
I'd be proud and happy to be a citizen of the EU Smile

Notonyournellly · 29/03/2017 10:53

Same as you, Brummie. I never got around to it because I never saw the need, but now I am in the process of applying for citizenship of my mother's country of birth. We will also apply for our DCs to get citizenship of my DH's country. Although things are uncertain for my mum and DH (being as they are furriners) we are lucky to have the option. Congratulations on getting yours so quickly!

Birdandsparrow · 29/03/2017 10:54

I rang the Irish emabssy and they said that with a mother born in Belfast and me in the UK I am automatically an Irish citizen and can apply directly for a passport. Forms arrived last week.

Semaphorically · 29/03/2017 11:02

We aren't entitled to any other European citizenship and it does worry me. Freedom of movement was a consideration for us when we moved here, it helps me professionally to be more mobile.

To those who have two citizenships, post-Brexit if no freedom of UK movement, will you have to enter the non-UK EU county on your non-UK EU passport in order to get in on the right visa (I think EU freedom of movement is granted at the border)? I'm not really clear how this works. I suppose it's not yet decided but may become an issue? I know I can't enter the UK on my non-UK, non-EU passport unless I want to be classed as a temporary visitor.

LurkingHusband · 29/03/2017 11:16

To those who have two citizenships, post-Brexit if no freedom of UK movement, will you have to enter the non-UK EU county on your non-UK EU passport in order to get in on the right visa

If you hold a passport from an(y) EU country, you just present that and go on in - absolutely nothing more required.

We have yet to know what the arrangements will be for non-EU (yes that's UK citizens now) as negotiations haven't started.

My gut feel is it will be deliberately arranged to mirror whatever the UK feels is needed at our borders. So better get used to the idea of queuing to go anywhere in Europe. Plus needing to queue to go from one EU country to another.

As for working in the EU ... I wouldn't make any plans yet. Although at the rate things will probably proceed, it's more likely we'll have to tell our kids to rein in their ambitions.

Semaphorically · 29/03/2017 11:19

If you hold a passport from an(y) EU country, you just present that and go on in - absolutely nothing more required.

Yes, but a visa is still granted at the border, no? By scanning your passport the country you enter has you in their system with a corresponding EU freedom of movement type visa. Nothing in your passport of course, but it happens in the background?

unsureaboutkids · 29/03/2017 11:23

I'm doing it this week. Though it'll take "up to a" year for it to be processed so I am deeply envious of all of your stories about super speedy applications!

Inara · 29/03/2017 11:27

DH is Irish and his UK passport arrived in the post the other day. He's lived here for donkeys years but predicted brexit as soon as the vote was announced so cracked on with his application. Our 3DC have both passports.

We're moving to Ireland in October in principle to look after his frail DF but with no plan of returning within 2 years - that way I can get an Irish passport too. DC1 plans to go to uni in Germany so it will be important for us all to be able to visit easily

passportissues123 · 29/03/2017 11:27

Dh and the 2 kids can have Irish passports, it is only me who cannot. At least my kids will be able to avail themselves of freedom of movement.

I can apply if we go and live on the island of Ireland (so north or south) for 3 years. Depending on what happens to DPs employment over the next 2 years it might be worth doing.

LurkingHusband · 29/03/2017 11:34

Yes, but a visa is still granted at the border, no?

No. That's the whole point of the EU. Any EU citizen has the freedom to move within the EU without needing visas, work permits. Currently UK citizens, being EU citizens, fall into that category. Once the UK is out of the EU, as I said, who knows ? But whatever does happen, it will almost certainly be symmetrical. So if (as seems very likely) the UK starts insisting that everyone entering the UK needs a visa, then you can bet the EU will impose the same requirement the other way.

I sincerely hope that's not a shock to anyone.

LurkingHusband · 29/03/2017 11:36

By scanning your passport the country you enter has you in their system with a corresponding EU freedom of movement type visa.

Also countries in the Schengen area (obviously not the UK) don't even need passports

llhj · 29/03/2017 11:43

I'm astonished that you received your Italian passport as quickly. My experience of Italian bureaucracy is that's it's absolutely appalling verging on corrupt and totally inept at times. Am an ardent remained too but loathed your snide comment at the speed of the UK service. Our passport service is also deluged at the moment with EU citizens claiming citizenship and trying to get passports. Part of the reason I believe so many voted out is down to many people constantly denigrating our services and country and people here fed up with this perceived anti-patriotism. Your post exemplifies that attitude, everything is better elsewhere. Well now people feel that they've told 'that lot to F off then and go elsewhere'. Horrible sentiments but so true of many leavers.