Effect of changing nationality on Civil Partnership validity

[chaoclive]

Hi there

I'm a dual British/Irish national and had my CP with my Chinese partner in the British Embassy in Vietnam. Now, I am considering renouncing my British citizenship and relying solely on my Irish passport.

What I'm wondering is, if I, as an Irish citizen, present a British Civil Partnership certificate at a British Embassy in support of a EEA family permit for the UK, will the Embassy think this is strange? Of course, if they want to have proof that I'm no longer a British citizen, I could present the letter from the Home Office confirming renunciation, but I'm guessing that they may have issues with this because they will think I've only done this for visa purposes (and they would be right).

Any views?

Thanks!
Chaoclive

[chaoclive]

Sorry, should have said in the initial post that only British citizens can get a CP at the Embassy in Vietnam. Therefore, this means that I had (and may still have) a British passport at the time of CP registration.

[EUsmileWEallsmile]

It would be obvious to the ECO what you are attempting to do. If you were to renounce nationality, you would not be British.

[chaoclive]

Obvious but legal, right?

[EUsmileWEallsmile]

Do the Irish authorities recognise your civil status? I suspect so, but I would check that if I were you.

[chaoclive]

Yes they do. The UK CP is mentioned in the list of CPs/same-sex marriages that the Irish government recognizes. No problem with that bit!

[EUsmileWEallsmile]

Well that's good at any rate.

If you have no attachment to your British nationally and have no desire to try Singh or the immigration rules, then I don't see how what you propose to do would fall foul of the regulations.

This is my personal opinion, you may wish to seek legal advice.