Children getting dual nationality - any downsides?

[Busypigeon]

Hi,

Through their father, my children are able to claim nationality of another EU country. Are there any downsides to doing this? Background is that childrens' paternal great grandfather was from another current EU country. I've considered some of the possible problems. We checked that there is no national service that the kids could be called on to do. I have also thought about what might happen in the event of a relationship breakdown. DH has never lived in this other country, nor have his parents, he doesn't speak the language other than hello and thank you, and so I don't have any worries about him taking the children there to live if we broke up. I have to give written consent for them to get the dual nationality.

We just feel that having that other passport might give them some opportunities that may be more difficult post-Brexit with just a UK passport, although obviously so much of the post-Brexit world is unknown. MIL and DH have always had dual nationality with this other country, although DH has only recently got his passport. Kids are too young to make the decision themselves. I travelled when I was younger, and I'd like my children to have the same opportunities.

Any thoughts?

What is the country? There are a few places where there can be negatives- for example, I know someone who has to file US tax returns, despite never having lived there, and generally speaking if you were to be arrested in the country of your other nationality you wouldn't be entitled to consular assistance from your 'home' embassy. Neither likely to be a big issue in an EU country, so assuming there is no national service like you say, no tax liabilities (id check especially things like implications of inheriting property locally if that is possible) then it's generally a positive.

Our kids are Dual nationals US and UK. I think it will give them lots of opportunities

Mine also have UK/US - what is the other country?

The other country is Poland. No family property owned there. MIL and DH have had nationality since they were born and no problems. I'm guessing there won't be any issues, and I've been happy for them to get the dual nationality, it's just as we get a bit further into things, I thought I should question everything. We're still in the early stages though.

Obviously hope they'll never be arrested and need consular assistance.....

I travelled when I was younger, and I'd like my children to have the same opportunities.

They’re going to be allowed to leave the U.K. post Brexit...

Check the tax implications, including inheritance tax. Things like national service; does it exist? would they have to complete it?

I know they'll be allowed to travel, but will we have the same freedom in Europe? Who knows. Will they be able to study as freely in Europe as some of my contemporaries did? Who knows. Will they be able to work where they want in Europe, should they wish to do so? Who knows. We'd considered it before we had children, but was a bit more abstract then. If there are only positives, or the positives vastly outweigh the negatives, then I'd like to do it.

There are no assets there. There are actually no immediate family there any more - it was three generations ago that any ancestors were born there, so there are distant relatives only. National service doesn't exist there, so they're ok on that front.

Does it definitely confer with relations that far away? One of my kids is dual Canada/UK - but he can only pass on Canadian citizenship, not UK citizen ship to his children.

It depends on the country. I can’t think of any downsides to having an extra Polish passport. My son is lucky enough to be entitled to three passports, Irish, UK and Australian, I think he is very lucky! I know some countries don’t let you hold more than one citizenship, I have Chinese and German friends who have had issues, but really, unless there are tax or military service implications I don’t see a problem.

DCs are dual UK/EU (Portuguese), no issues

My DC's are Canadian/South African. Kind of works out because the odd country that Canadian's need a visa for, South African's don't. Will also help if DC's decide to continue living overseas and have children overseas as their children won't have Canadian citizenship (though I can protest this due too Native Canadian heritage). So yeah, worth it for us.

I am Polish and I can think of any issues. The only thing with dual citizenships is that while you are physically in the other country you British citizenhip doesnt apply to you, as in when in Poland you are treated as Polish. Which is fine in Europe, doesn't really change anything, not so much in country like say Iran.

I can’t imagine there’s any downsides. My brother has Irish/English and because of the Irish they used to do extra checks on him but that’s about it

My DS is dual UK/French. No problems for us, except he needs to learn French as they speak to you in French at the Embassy when renewing or doing other things. He would have been taught French regardless though.