Curious - multiple nationalities
 

Hi All, from Canada

I've lurked around here for a couple of years, & seen/received very good advice on subjects close to my heart :-) I would love to help out/contribute, but my immigration experience is so old it has become highly irrelevant.

I'm a permanently expatriated Brit, currently in Canada, via HK, Oz, France.

Today's question is purely to satisfy my personal curiosity, & has no ulterior motive ;-)

One often hears about dual nationality, not so often about triple or quadruple. Is is safe to say that countries which recognise dual nationality will recognise triple?

My children & I are (we realise we are very lucky so-and-so's) eligible for at least 3 nationalities/citizenships each. As Canadian residents, do we have to declare more than 2, if so to whom, & are there any negative consequences to this?

SB

Re: Curious - multiple nationalities
 

Hi SB and welcome to the forums :wave:

I don't know the answer to your question, but you could try asking in the Canada section - http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=56 - hopefully someone will be able to help.

Re: Curious - multiple nationalities
 

I believe you would have to check with each country what their rules are. UK at the moment does not have restrictions but other countries do

http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/sit...ty?view=Binary

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/br...alnationality/

Re: Curious - multiple nationalities
 

Thank you for the welcome, & links. Good reading & info.

So far, given the nationalities concerned, I don't think we have a problem.

The question was prompted by a (apparently misinformed) Canadian acquaintance who swears blind that one can only hold a maximum of two nationalities, & must renounce any others. Thus far, I haven't found any justification for this viewpoint, but am still researching & welcome any other comments (Only one of the [adult] children has a possibly "difficult" putative citizenship, & is researching that particular one herself)

SB

Re: Curious - multiple nationalities
 

Yep, he's misinformed! There are several people on the forum who hold at least three citizenships. Ian-mstm springs to mind, he's got UK/US/Canadian citizenships I believe, and there are quite a few others.

:)

Re: Curious - multiple nationalities
 

Thank you too, Ms Christmas ;)!!

I've always told the sprogs they are not unique in the nationality stakes, they'll be tickled to hear I have finally "found" others like them :-)

(It will also be mildly satisfying to shut aforementioned Cdn acquaintance up ;) He can be a bit boring on the subject of immigration, having worked - in what capacity we have never discovered - for CBSA... )

SB

Re: Curious - multiple nationalities
 

"Dual nationality" is a bit of misnomer. Multiple citizenship is more accurate. Providing each individual country tolerates holding a foreign citizenship as well as their own you can hold as many as you like. Planning on getting my future offspring at least three, ideally five :)

Re: Curious - multiple nationalities
 

:-) !!

I like your style :-) While I didn't ever plan multiple citizenships, I can attest they can be quite handy to have, & make for great dinner party small talk! (As well as being confusing, at times, for Border agents).

(China is bothering us mildly ATM, but the chances of that being/becoming an issue are remote & under review/research)
SB

Re: Curious - multiple nationalities
 

My children are each Swiss, British and Canadian. There's no issue with that combination. They had friends in school though who did have problematic combinations, iirc Italy and Israel weren't keen on the combination of foreign citizenship and National Service while the German and South African rules were medieval.

Re: Curious - multiple nationalities
 

We're hoping to add a third to the mix here too one day :)

To my knowledge, MarylandNed has at least 3 passports knocking about, might even be 4.

Re: Curious - multiple nationalities
 

I believe it's 4 but 2 of them are EU states which seems a bit pointless.

Re: Curious - multiple nationalities
 

Depends, might be a book collector ;)

Re: Curious - multiple nationalities
 

Doubt Canada would have any problem with you having a stack of passports. I'd be almost certain millions of Canadians have, or are eligible to have, many other citizenships.

Re: Curious - multiple nationalities
 

I believe China does not allow multiple citizenships.

Re: Curious - multiple nationalities
 

Having multiple nationalities certainly has its advantages for various reasons.
Canada legally allows this so travelling with multiple passports is not uncommon to see.
Obviously carrying multiple passports and being examined and having them found might initially raise red flags and providing you accept that border officers have a job to do then this type of situation is easily resolved. Im pretty sure I wouldn't go through North Korean customs with several passports though. Some countries allow multiple passport holders and some don't so its best to check if this is allowed.
So are you lucky to hold several passports or do I think you are the next Jason Bourne or Carlos the Jackal:lol: