Should I apply for British passport for DS before Brexit? Is it even possible?

[BeesAnkles]

DH and I live in Spain with our Spanish-born DS who has a Spanish passport. I am British (otherwise than by descent).

I'm wondering if it is worth applying for a British passport for my DS before Brexit.

Spain doesn't offer dual citizenship with Britain but, from what I've read, there is no reason they would have to know about the British passport.

Do you think we should apply in case he one day wants to live or study in the UK? Or even just to make visiting the UK easier after Brexit. Or, as he is British by descent anyway, will there not be any added benefit to having a passport?

Thanks in advance!

A child passport only lasts five years, so there is no sense paying for one if you have no plans to use it in next five years.

What you could do is register him as a British citizen born abroad. This is not required to assert his citizenship, but it will mean if when he is an adult, he wishes to get a British passport, he will not need your original birth certificate to apply for his passport as he will have a certificate of registration.
www.gov.uk/register-a-birth
www.gov.uk/apply-first-adult-passport/what-documents-you-need-to-apply

Thanks very much for replying @PlanDeRaccordement

I wasn't aware that registering his birth in the UK was an option so I've looked into it but unfortunately it would cost more than £450 including all the official translations they require!

I agree that it would be a waste of money to get a passport now when he doesn't actually need it. My main concern was that it might be harder to get after Brexit but I've spoken to the passport office and apparently because his British by descent status won't change there is no reason Brexit should affect his future passport application.

I've decided to hold off until he actually wants to live/study in the UK. He's only 1 so plenty of time!

I don't know if you're still interested in replies to this, but I'm looking into the reverse for my DD (getting a Spanish passport for her).

Anyway, I've posted on expat websites about the process, apparently in my daughter's case (she has a UK passport), she would have to renounce her UK citizenship, but only via Spanish legal processes not recognised in the UK. So in effect you can have both UK and Spanish passports, but you're not really a dual citizen, as neither nationality recognises the other passport. Or something like that.

I don't think Brexit will effect whether your son could get a UK passport or not, if you are a UK citizen by origin that won't change, and Spain didn't recognise dual citizenship with the UK before Brexit anyway. But is he Spanish by origin or naturalisation or option? As it seems there are differences in how he could 'lose' it.

I hope all that made sense!