Do my DDs need a UK passport?

[idkwtdo]

I am confused! I hope someone can help as I can't find the answer online. I have dual nationality and so do my DDs (UK & another EU country). My DDs currently have the EU country passports but not current UK passports. If we go away (after Covid) do they need to return into the UK using UK passports or can they use their EU country passport? I have applied for a UK passport but unsure if I need to do the same for under 18s? I don't want them to not be allowed back home but equally I don't want to fork out for 2 extra passports now if I don't have to. Thanks in advance for any help

Yes, I'd get them.

I understand that we will only be able to remain in the EU for 3 out of 6 months and that it will be the same for EU nationals in the UK. There may be exceptions for children but I suspect you do need to get them a UK passport now. This will also help enormously when it comes to going to a UK uni if that is likely.

Just re read and if they are already dual nationality I think it might not technically be needed but still easier I think. But a lot more expensive 🙁

If they don't have UK passports won't you end up in a massive queue when you come home? I'm considering getting an Irish passport just to avoid the non EU queue in France. Maybe I have a higher than average dislike of queuing

My understanding is that they can enter on their EU passports, but using the channel for EU nationals. Once they are in, the fact of their having travelled on an EU passport is irrelevant as they are UK nationals anyway. The advantage of them actually having a UK passport is simply for them to be able to use the UK passport control queue.

Thanks everyone- I hadn't really considered different queues! Good point! Actually maybe it would be more peaceful for us if they had to go in a different queue.
My eldest has a school trip abroad in the summer (if it goes ahead) so I don't want any problems for her trying to get through passport control when she gets home if she doesn't have a right to remain stamp in her EU passport (which she doesn't need as a dual national but passport control won't know that).

But I maybe over thinking it all!! It sounds like although she may not technically need one, it might be easier to get a UK passport. We've never really considered any of this before and happily travelled as a family with 3 EU ones and my husband on his UK one

Yes, I think it's best to have both, idkwtd. We are also dual nationals UK/EU and always have both, travelling in/out of the UK on our UK passports and in/out/around of Europe on our EU passports. Worldwide we just pick the one most favourable for the country we are visiting and/or the group we are travelling in.

is it true that if you all had both you could probably enter the EU way into the EU and the UK way into the UK. That's definitely an advantage and what my dual national dad intends to do.

Thanks macavity and frazzled.

I've been wondering if EU nationals will get a stamp on their passport when they arrive in the UK allowing them to stay for eg 3 months?

If so I would imagine when my DD went to leave for a next holiday which would be more than 3 months later, she would look like she'd overstayed.

Another dual national friend said they had to change their passport numbers for flight details between outward and inwards so they could easily enter each country.

It seems so much more complicated now even if we get 2 passports!

@Frazzled2207

is it true that if you all had both you could probably enter the EU way into the EU and the UK way into the UK. That's definitely an advantage and what my dual national dad intends to do.

I'd like to know this too. I think, OP, I'd get both – especially having seen the coverage around Windrush – to be on the safe side.

@MacavityTheDentistsCat

Yes, I think it's best to have both, idkwtd. We are also dual nationals UK/EU and always have both, travelling in/out of the UK on our UK passports and in/out/around of Europe on our EU passports. Worldwide we just pick the one most favourable for the country we are visiting and/or the group we are travelling in.

Macavity, when you do that do you literally just go into the most favourable queue and that's it? Or do you need to have put the passport number for the one you're planning on using on your advance passenger information? (So potentially a different one each way.) Thanks!

Day to day I don't think it matters. A global pandemic is a good example of when it can be important.

I have dual nationality and keep both passports up to date. Someday it might be important.

Immigration lawyer here. I advise that you do get British passports for them. It will not be an issue at the moment but as of July there will be a lot more checks at the border, seeing if the EU citizen has applied under the EU Settlement Scheme. You will probably find it gets difficult at the border as the kids won’t have settled status (and shouldn’t apply for it if they are already British citizens).

It’s a pain but I expect that in the long run you will save hassle at the border by having the British passports.

Thanks very much - I think I'll apply for British passports for them both.... and I have a passport interview next week - eeeek!!

Some countries (eg the USA) have a very explicit requirement that citizens enter and leave the country only using their US passport, even if they also hold another passport.

Other countries, including the UK, AFAIK do not.

However, that is not the point.

The point is that you should get your children their British passports asap because that is, de facto, the one and only sure way to prove their British citizenship.

This thing really winds me up, but most Brits do not realise the sheer lunacy of rising up in arms against ID cards (which almost all of the rest of the civilised world has) while passively accepting a perverse system in which in theory you don't need compulsory ID, but, in practice, how on Earth do you prove you are a citizen if you don't have a passport? Windrush has shown that you don't, and that your government may even deport you, even if you are a citizen, because, well, without a passport how do you prove it???

I know of families who have had to dig up work contracts and pay slips of 20 years ago, to prove that the parents were legally settled here when their children were born, and so the children were born British. If they hadn't found those old records, the children would not have obtained a British passport.

Oh, one more thing: the Home Office does issue citizenship certificates, but they cost more than a passport!!!!

A passport is even more indispensable after May's hostile environment policies, which were the main cause of the Windrush scandal, and which are likely to become even more 'hostile' following Brexit .

Mind you, Blair had some cockeyed idea for a very expensive ID card linked to this that and the other.

I can't for the like of me see why we can't have a simple card issued by the Local Authority, with name, address, date of birth, signature and a photo, free if compulsory, or a nominal charge if not. But it won't happen with the current Government which is trying to centralise power to itself and its unelected cronies.