Dual Passport

MOLL1208

Hi Im hoping someone can help me. My son was born in England in 1993 to Irish parents and he holds an Irish passport, he now want to know if he can apply for an English passport. My questions are
Would he be entitled to an english passport?
Can he hold a passport for both countries?
Or would he have to surrender his Irish passport?

Thanks in advance for any help!

ABajaninCork

AFAIK, there is nothing to stop him applying for a UK passport. He does not have to give up the Irish one and can hold dual nationality.

But your best bet is to check with the British Embassy.

coylemj

I don't believe either the Irish or UK governments have a problem with dual nationality i.e. if your son gets a UK passport he can still hold on to his Irish passport.

On eligibility, this is from https://www.gov.uk/british-passport-eligibility .......

Being born in the UK doesn’t automatically give you British citizenship.

If you were born on or after 1 January 1983, you will be a British citizen if your mother or father was either:

• a British citizen when you were born
• ‘settled’ in the UK when you were born

In most cases you will be a British citizen if your mother or father was born or naturalised in the UK.

If your circumstances are more complicated, you can get more information on the UK Border Agency website.

Marcusm

You should note that by virtue of the Immigration Act 1971 (UK), an Irish citizen is treated as settled in theUK from day 1 of their arrival; this is because Irish citizens are not subject to immigration control in th UK.

Crazyivan 1979

I was born in the England in 1979 to an Irish mother and an English father.
Moved here when I was 16 and my mother got me an Irish passport, which I lost when I was about 24. Reported it lost and applied for another one, the Irish passport office wanted mothers birth cert, mother and fathers marriage cert and would then take longer than a month. Was going on holiday, so went to the British embassy, got a form, sent it off with my birth cert got my passport the next week.

MOLL1208

Thanks for reply s. both his father and I worked and live in uk from 1991 to 1994 and then I returned home. Both of us are Irish born and weren't married, His father has since passed away. on passport application form its asks for a address you reside in in Uk. would it be a problem to use our address here or does he need to have a UK address.

Thanks again for your help

coylemj

Crazyivan 1979 wrote: »

I was born in the England in 1979 to an Irish mother and an English father.
Moved here when I was 16 and my mother got me an Irish passport, which I lost when I was about 24. Reported it lost and applied for another one, the Irish passport office wanted mothers birth cert, mother and fathers marriage cert and would then take longer than a month. Was going on holiday, so went to the British embassy, got a form, sent it off with my birth cert got my passport the next week.

Though I believe the OP's son will qualify based on his parent's legal status as 'settled' in the UK when he was born, its worth noting that the eligibility criteria are different based on whether you were born before or after Jan 1st, 1983 so you and he are on different sides of that particular fence.

There appears to be an absolute right (to a British passport) if you were born in the UK before 1/1/83 so you qualify as of right but that right (based on being born there) is qualified for people born after 1/1/83, including the OP's son.

ABajaninCork

Why don't you speak to the British Embassy as suggested? Ultimately, they'll be the ones to issue the passport, so it would make sense to talk to them first.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

ABajaninCork

Are you sure about that? For non-resident UK citizens, the Embassy DO issue the passports.

But for Citizenship queries, the Embassy would be the first stop.

MOLL1208

I sent an e-mail to UKBA Nationalit​y Enquiries (ADC_UKBANATENQ@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk) ands got an info page which doesnt seem to anser my questions. do ye think If I ring the British Embassy in Dublin would they be able to answer my queries?

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

ABajaninCork

Have a read of This, OP. Might help...

ABajaninCork

MOLL1208 wrote: »

I sent an e-mail to UKBA Nationalit​y Enquiries (ADC_UKBANATENQ@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk) ands got an info page which doesnt seem to anser my questions. do ye think If I ring the British Embassy in Dublin would they be able to answer my queries?

The website is less than clear, I must admit. From reading it, I think your son can apply for registration, but am not sure. That's why I suggested calling the Embassy.

coylemj

Try starting here....

https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y/ireland

Passport Helpline will cost you...

Passport Information Helpline

Premium rate helpline 1570 999 331 Landline calls are charged at 1.78 Euro per minute - mobile calls may cost more

MOLL1208

I have e-mailed the BRITISH Embassy in Dublin and will also call them to see if I can get a answer. Thank you so much for your reply's. I will let ye know if I get any answers,

Thanks again

Moll

brinks_18476

Of course he can have a UK passport - simples

annieoburns

I am entitled to a UK passport. I fall under category of 'dual nationality' as far as UK are concerned so I am allowed to keep an Irish passport. But I think the Irish government require you to opt for one or the other ie do not allow dual citizenship.

My children were born in Ireland and are not allowed claim UK status based on mine nor were they allowed to be added to my UK passport when they were minors. This is one of the changes that came in the 1980's.

Peregrinus

annieoburns wrote: »

I am entitled to a UK passport. I fall under category of 'dual nationality' as far as UK are concerned so I am allowed to keep an Irish passport. But I think the Irish government require you to opt for one or the other ie do not allow dual citizenship.

No, Ireland is fine with dual nationality. You can have as many nationalities as you like, and it won't impact on your Irish nationality, or your right to an Irish passport, in any way.

Only exception is where, in order to obtain that nationality of some other country, you explicitly renounce your Irish nationality (because the other country requires that). If you do that, then Ireland will accept it as an effective renunciation of Irish nationality.

ResearchWill

annieoburns wrote: »

I am entitled to a UK passport. I fall under category of 'dual nationality' as far as UK are concerned so I am allowed to keep an Irish passport. But I think the Irish government require you to opt for one or the other ie do not allow dual citizenship.

My children were born in Ireland and are not allowed claim UK status based on mine nor were they allowed to be added to my UK passport when they were minors. This is one of the changes that came in the 1980's.

Ireland allows Dual Nationality. I personally know a number of people with dual citizenship.

http://www.nascireland.org/latest-news/pq-dual-citizenship/

ResearchWill

Peregrinus wrote: »

No, Ireland is fine with dual nationality. You can have as many nationalities as you like, and it won't impact on your Irish nationality, or your right to an Irish passport, in any way.

Only exception is where, in order to obtain that nationality of some other country, you explicitly renounce your Irish nationality (because the other country requires that). If you do that, then Ireland will accept it as an effective renunciation of Irish nationality.

I believe section 21 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act requires appositive action of lodging a declaration of alienage with the Minister.

From the USA oath "that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen;"

Yet many Irish have both passports.