Dual Nationality - Renouncing British Passport

[evergreen8]

Hi guys,

I was born in the UK, but always held an Italian passport as both my parents are Italian. In 2010 I got a British passport as I needed it to find work in South Korea, I am getting married and want to bring my wife back to London on a EEAFP.

I understand that having an Italian & British passport means I will be treated as a British citizen first. My question is if I give up my British passport will I be able to bring my spouse to the UK on a EEAFP using just my Italian passport. Or will the fact that I was born in the UK still mean I am still considered a British citizen first?

[chaoclive]

Yes, you will be able to get him/her an EEA FP. I have done EXACTLY this.

I was British and Irish from birth. I renounced British citizenship in April and my civil partner received his EEA family permit in June. We will travel back to the UK in July (we live in China at present). The family permit was issued quite quickly (8 days including weekends/one 1-day public holiday).

I had sought advice from the Home Office before renouncing. They said that renunciation of British citizenship means that they will not treat us as British at all.

Just remember that it's hard to get British citizenship back if you renounce it for this reason. I have been told by the Home Office that I could only be considered for resumption under the discretionary power held by the Home Secretary (not that I care!). Also remember that the UK might leave the EU. This may cause problems (of course, no one knows yet). Also: you might want to investigate the Surinder Singh route (if you have worked in another EEA country).

Any questions just fire away... or see here: http://www.immigrationboards.com/eea-ro ... 13833.html

[evergreen8]

Thanks for the advice.

I never thought there would be a problem with renouncing my British passport. My parents have lived and worked here since the 80s on Italian passports, and my sister and I have lived, studied and worked in the UK our whole life on Italian passports. I'm actually one of the only people in my family who has a UK passport, and I got that in my twenties. If there were any changes in the EU, then I suppose my whole family would be affected over here, not just my wife and me.

One more question I have, I was given a National Insurance number before being issued a British passport. Renouncing my British nationality won't affect my NI number would it?

[chaoclive]

It hasn't affected mine. It doesn't even affect our UK civil partnership which was registered in the British Embassy in Vietnam.

Also: your family members (and yourself) may not be affected by changes in the EEA directly as they will have already gained PR status (having been in the UK for more than 5 years exercising treaty rights, e.g. working/self-employed etc). Your wife may be the issue, same as my civil partner.

Good luck

[LunarGirl]

I renounced my British citizenship last November. Not one thing has changed in my life here (I'm now Irish only), except for not having a British passport in my possession. I was able to vote in the May elections and the letters from HMRC didn't change - unfortunately :/

It's interesting that you said that you required a British passport to get a job in South Korea, why is it that any other EEA passport wouldn't have sufficed? I know a Belgian guy who worked there, I'm just curious to know how a British passport is more beneficial. My two children, who were born in Northern Ireland, can have an Irish and/or a British passport, I'm thinking ahead as to whether I should get British passports for them as they currently only have Irish ones.

[chaoclive]

@lunargirl: I guess it might have been an English teaching job. I've heard of a German guy who have lived in the UK all his life being rejected by my university as he didn't have a passport from an English speaking country. He got one, as he was entitled to, and got the job!

[LunarGirl]

Thank you Chaoclive, that makes sense.

[chaoclive]

Thank you Chaoclive, that makes sense.

You're awake early today
Hope all is going well!