More "You Exist, you pay" from HMG

[Tallulah]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

You may want to look into precisely what Spain's laws are regarding nationality. There have been lots of changes in the last several years - and it's sometimes surprising which countries now accept dual nationality in cases where a child is born in a country other than where their parents are from.

As far as the passports are concerned, I suspect the UK is doing like the US does - making the embassies and consulates "pay their own way" by fixing service charges so as to recover their costs. So as an expat, you pay not only the regular fee for getting your passport, but also the costs of having an embassy or consulate available to handle the transaction for you.
Cheers,
Bev

Hi Bev,

Very valid and interesting point. I suspect this is one of those issues that is slowly being left alone, albeit, not quite legal to have two passports. Within the EU, nobody seems to look much into it. My OH has several cousins who hold both UK and Spanish passports and in the case of those here, some still have the UK one, others have let them lapse...and there is one cousin in the UK still who has both UK (he was born there) and Spanish as his parents registered him at birth with the Spanish Consulate in the UK. At no time in a fairly long history, even when frontiers were "properly" up in Spain, was he asked any questions to do with his nationality. He just produced his passport and off he went.

It makes you wonder though, if at the end of all this EU process of changes, we won't have the next stage of battle between the various countries regarding one single EU passport for all members...it would certainly make all this births, deaths, etc much, much simpler.

Tally.x

[Bevdeforges]

You don't lose your nationality just because you let your passport lapse. Your kids may have dual nationality and just have never claimed it.

Are children born in Spain registered automatically with the local authorities? (Usually the town hall or other local registry?) If Spain is a jus sol country, it may be the case that all children born in Spain are considered Spanish citizens. That used to be the way it was in France, but that changed a few years ago.

Also, although dual nationality may not be recognized by many countries (like you said, the country that claims you considers you one of theirs, period), there are only a few countries in Europe that make you formally surrender your "other" nationality when taking a new one. (Germany, Austria and Belgium leap to mind here). AFAIK, most countries (even Germany now) have done away with the need for a child born with two nationalities to choose one or the other at the age of 18.

Granted, getting your kids two different passports gets pricey - but it's worth it to find out what Spanish law is on the nationality of children born on Spanish soil - whether with foreign parents or with one Spanish and one foreign parent. You can never tell when it might be handy to have a second nationality to fall back on these days!
Cheers,
Bev

[Pesky Wesky]

Here's a page which addresses some of the points that have come up in the thread about children in Spain
Must a child who was born outside the UK have his/her birth registered?

[Pesky Wesky]

And a couple more

Getting the Spanish nationality | Legal guide provided by English-speaking Spanish lawyers with iAbogado, Spain

Is a child eligible for Spanish nationality just by being born in Spain? - belegal.com



Time for a cup of tea I think!

[jojo]

Originally Posted by Pesky Wesky

And a couple more

Getting the Spanish nationality | Legal guide provided by English-speaking Spanish lawyers with iAbogado, Spain

Is a child eligible for Spanish nationality just by being born in Spain? - belegal.com



Time for a cup of tea I think!

....... and a lay down after all that activity!! LOL

Jo xx

[mrypg9]

I'm not sure about this but.....under the Single European Act, signed by the sainted Mrs.T., citizens of EU member states have the right to move freely within the Union (along with money, labour and goods) and production of a nationally-issued passport is not a requirement for such movement.
However....I seem to remember the , Guardian, BBC or some such sent a journalist to test this the first day the SEA came into effect and although he was allowed to leave the UK on production of a driving licence as ID he was warned that he would face problems on reentry.
Maybe the problem lies in the UK not having ID cards as proof of status? I remember that when I flew to the UK from Prague my Czech fellow-passengers used their national ID cards for travel, not their passports.
If you are not in possession of a valid UK passport you would presumably have no status in Spain or indeed any other country, EU or non-EU, as your passport is your only proof that you exist!