Citizenship
 

Hi, I had a baby in July this year and she has a Canadian birth certificate. Is she a Canadian Citizen?
My family and I are here as Permanent residents and are about to apply for citizenship, we want to keep our british passports too. I don't want to apply for a british passport for the baby if that would take away her canadian citizenship. Hope this makes sense. I have tried calling and it is impossible to get hold of a human lol

Re: Citizenship
 

It would not take away her Canadian Citizenship.

I believe she is Canadian by birth.

Re: Citizenship
 

Yes she is. If either parent was born in Britain then she is also British.

Dual citizenship means no one has to give up anything, british canadians can have both (where do people get these odd ideas?)

On the other hand I see no point in having dual passports, not unless a lot of travel in Europe in on the cards. The kids and I now travel on just Cdn passports, its cheaper and less hassle to do. I will however go to the hassle and expense of getting them UK passports before they are 16, just in case the law changes.

Re: Citizenship
 

Thank you

Re: Citizenship
 

Our son was born here and has both passports. Both were very straightforward, just follow the basic instructions to apply and that was all. He is considered a Canadian by birth, and a Brit by descent, no need to do anything except apply for the passport.

Like Iaink says, for the most part there's not really any benefit to having both, but we have found it quicker at passport control in the UK, and simpler for us all to be British in New Zealand too. Depends if you travel enough to make it worth it. If you ever decide to return to the UK though to live, I would recommend getting the UK passport for that, as it gives permission to stay, whereas a Canadian passport only gives up to 6 months I believe. Some people risk that, others don't.

I'd also do it before they reach 16, just to make it an easier application.

Re: Citizenship
 

Its worth knowing that if any of the family members travelling together has a UK passport you can all go through the quick line on re entry to the UK.

In fact Ive done this with my expired UK passport even.

Re: Citizenship
 

Thanks Iaink, that's good to know!

Re: Citizenship
 

How complicated would it be if we all had UK passports and baby had canadian...I am trying to get us all travel ready quickly as my dad is sick:(

Re: Citizenship
 

Not particularly complicated. Take the birth cert in case there is any confusion, but it should be plain sailing.

Re: Citizenship
 

Thank you so much for the help :)

Re: Citizenship
 

Not complicated, I travelled back to the UK last year, before becoming a Canadian Citizen, so I still had my British passport, but my girls were both born here and had Canadian passports!
We went thru the "other" line up, and it was way shorter than the EU one!
I never bothered to get them a UK passport, as it was way more expensive and imho not necessary!
I hope your father gets well soon
x

Dual citizenship?
 

Sorry I don't really understand how to navigate around here as yet. I don't know how to start a post:huh:Anyway wondering if anyone knows the answer to this query. My daughter was born in Scotland in 1985. I, her mum, am british. Her father is American. DO you think she can get a british passport? Thanks for any advice in advance

Re: Dual citizenship?
 

If your daughter was born in the UK in 1985 and you were a UK citizen at the time of her birth, then your daughter is a UK citizen and is eligible for a UK passport.

Re: Citizenship
 

THanks so very much. Now I can apply for her British PAssport, yeah

Re: Citizenship
 

well both my children were born in Canada and we go back to the UK twice a year, they have canadian passports and i have british only, i always go thru the EU line because its quicker, as long as the kids landing cards are filled out properly you should have no problems. I got my kids British passports recently so December will be the first time we travel using them :) the only time i have had a problem is when we travelled to France and Tenerife because they don't offer landing cards, most people that travel there are from the EU after all.