Can someone explain to me the importance of getting EU passports?

[Spanneroo]

DH is a dual national - Uk/Germany. He had a German passport up until recently, but he didn't renew it, as he always used his UK one anyway because DC and I have UK passports and it meant queuing together, rather than separately when we travelled to Germany.

I'm seeing it pop up a lot that people have got their EU passports renewed, but I am struggling to understand why this is important. If DH is a dual national, surely he will remain so after brexit? The DC would presumably still be eligible for German passports after Brexit too? (They currently only have UK passports).

I'm sure I'm just naive to the impact, but if anyone is able to explain this to me, I would really appreciate it. We are quite hard up financially, but if it's worth it, we can start the process of applying for/renewing passports and work out how to pay for it later.

He'll remain a German national, he just won't have any evidence of this so will be treated as a U.K. national when - for eg - crossing an EU border.

Depending on his/your circumstances this may or may not be important.

For your children though there may be a difference depending on when they acquire dual nationality.

Do they currently have German nationality? (I assume they do, but I don't know German nationality law). If they don't have it, but have the right to it, then it may make sense to apply before the U.K. leaves the EU, as I believe there are differences in whether Germans can have dual nationality depending on whether their second nationality is an EU country or not.

(Don't take my word for it: nationality law is complex. Get advice from someone who knows).

He won't lose his nationality by not renewing the passport. Do your DC's also have dual nationality? If not that's what I'd be looking at getting as it will mean they retain the freedom of movement etc.

Also, if money is tight, check the price of the German vs the UK passport. My EU country passport is a LOT cheaper to renew than my UK one.

The DC would presumably still be eligible for German passports after Brexit too?

now. it's not clear yet if germany will allow german/british dual nationality after brexit.
tbh I would apply for their german passports.

Wow, thanks so much for such quick responses!

The DC haven't got dual nationality, but are currently eligible. I will look into getting that sorted for them.

German passports are a lot cheaper than UK ones. From memory, around two thirds the price 😯

We also have twins due in November. I'm assuming we will have to wait until they're born before we can apply for their dual national status?

The DC haven't got dual nationality, but are currently eligible

I don't know German nationality law, but it matters whether

• they already have German nationality by right

• they don't have it but are entitled to claim or apply for it.

Note that a passport provides proof of nationality but doesn't confer nationality (you can have nationality without holding a passport).

This matters because of the Brexit cut-off that may prevent some people from being dual German-British nationals. Get proper advice.

DH is going to ring for a consultation appointment today with the German Embassy, as it's through them that we get the DC's dual national status.

As he holds German nationality, the DC are all entitled to the same, under current laws. I don't know what the exact process is, though, but hopefully DH will be able to ask about it.

I'm sure it will be quite straightforward for them then. It sounds like they already have dual nationality. Good luck.

it's not clear yet if germany will allow german/british dual nationality after brexit. tbh I would apply for their german passports.

When i picked up my German passport (EUR 48) they told me that as I'd applied when the UK was in the EU, German law allows both nationalities. If your DH applies after Brexit that may be different. From what I've been seeing on fb and other sites today it seems the EU have decided to grant the UK a 3 month extension to the deadline of 31st October if the UK PM asks for it so you have time.

Brefugee thank you. That's useful info. Hopefully BJ does so...

As German citizens your kids might in the future be able to study in Germany (where university is heavily subsidised, if not free), or in any other Eu country if the rules stay like today. And they could go and work anywhere in Europe without worrying about immigration. It is potentially a very good investment, so at the very least make sure they are registred as germans (the actual passport makes really no difference, as long as you can prove they’ve got the right to nationality)

And on the twins: yes I assume that whatever you do, you can only applied for people after they’re born, but should the rules change I would try anyway to submit an application to the German authorities to ask them to be recognised as nationals, on the basis that doing otherwise would discriminate between brothers. I know of a case in the U.K. where this was recognised as a legitimate reason to give the passport to a older brother, when the youngest was rightfully british (born to Eu parents settled for more than 5 years at the date of birth) but the oldest wasn’t.

Non EU citizens must give up their citizenship when they take German citizenship. This means if we have already Brexited then your twins will not be able to have both unless they a) grant an extension period or b) are born earlier than 31st October! Disclaimer- I read this online while researching my own situation but don't take my word for it!!

Non EU citizens must give up their citizenship when they take German citizenship.
I believe this is for adults. I remember schoolmates having to chose when they turned 18.

Non EU nationals have to renounce their previous citizenship when obtaining their German nationality as adults. Your children have German nationality as their birthright which means they are entitled by birth to German nationality. They cannot take this away.
These are internal nationality laws that apply to all countries and will not be affected by Brexit.

www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/faqs/EN/themen/migration/staatsang/Doppelte_Staatsangehoerigkeit_Mehrstaatigkeit_en.html

Thank you everyone.

My understanding is that the DC will always be able to be German citizens, but may not be allowed dual citizenship after Brexit, so they'd have to choose one or the other at 18.

It's good to know there may be some wiggle room for the twins if they're born after Brexit, so that's handy to have in my back pocket if there is no extension.

My older children have just applied for their Italian passports as entitled through their dad and both births was registered with Italian consulate
For then it means option to
work abroad is still open to them

Non EU citizens must give up their citizenship when they take German citizenship.

If one of the parents is German and on the birth certificate, the child is German, full stop, regardless of when they get registered with German authorities or when they ask for a passport or whether the other parent is EU or non EU.
Non EU children only have to choose at 18 (and I think that's changed) if they are born in Germany of 2 non EU parents and don't have any claim to citizenship by descent.

@spanneroo

With a German dad, i promise you your twins are German and you won't have a problem registering them.

Germany only allows dual nationality if the other one is an eu one. Otherwise you need to seek special permission and the rules are tight. People who take up a second nationality outside those rules loose their German citizenship.
In relation to kids it depends where your husband was born. As far as I remember if a German citizen was born outside Germany, kids need to have been registered with the German authorities before they are one year old and then they need to decide which nationality they want to keep between the ages of 18 and 23.

From the German embassy website (in English)

uk.diplo.de/uk-en/02/citizenship/acquiring-citizenship

If you are travelling in the EU you can access things like healthcare as an EU national ie the same as a local resident. Your EU passport is proof you are an EU citizen.

Once your British passport is no longer proof it would be useful to have proof iee a German passport.

If you children ever want to work or study in Germany they need an EU passport, and German uni fees are much cheaper, with some courses taught in English.

Regarding free emergency healthcare a passport is of no help - it is an ehic card you need and that is issued in the country of residence. So as a German national living in the UK after brexit you will not be entitled to one. Germany has an insurance based system so only German citicens with German health insurance can get German ehic cards.
Regarding free study etc this is again tied to residence conditions, however a eu passport will allow you or your children to live in an eu country for whatever number of years it takes to fullfil the residence conditions (without needing residence and work permit).