Dual Nationality Who has it and What Countries!

As far as I know you are ok to have dual nationality, the spanish will permit dual nationality if you were born in the uk and have a Spanish mother - my children can have dual nationality; i am spanish and they were both born in the uk - however if I wanted to have a british pasport, I could but i would loose my spanish one! crazy eh?

i got two passports, spanish and filipino.
spain recognizes dual citizenship for citizens of former spanish colonies.
what does that mean?
well, when i acquired spanish citizenship, i was not required to renounce my filipino citizenship and as far as spain is concerned, wherever i am, i am a spanish citizen.

until aug 2003 the philippines did not recognize dual citizenship, when i went to the philippine embassy to renew my filipino passport, i was required the spanish residence permit to prove that i was still filipino. when i showed the dni instead of the residence card, they no longer renewed my filipino passport. that is how i lost my filipino citizenship.

when i travelled to the philippines i entered using my spanish passport as a tourist.
now if i want to buy property in the philippines i have to prove legally that i am filipino, how? (there are ways and means)

but anyway, now that philippines recognizes dual citizenship, i can renew my filipino passport by just applying for renewal.
i can enter any third country using either passport (whichever is convenient) and that country will recognize me depending on which passport i use to enter.

on a hijacked plane, if i show the hijacker my filipino passport, i might get released before the usa or european passport holders.
that is, if hijacker does not blow up the plane.

I have a Spanish Passport as my OH is Spanish, we`re married and I lived in Spain for more than a year.

I also retain my British Passport as the UK accepts dual nationality.

Although the Spaniards do not accept Dual Nationality, I had to swear allegance to the King and surrender my UK Passport.

Although being all things Spanish, they cannot force me too as I`m from a country who accepts dual nationality.

I`m told though that if I require consulate services away from Spain I cannot use the services of both Spain and the UK.

The UK consulte will refuse me services as I`m officially held under Spanish rules.:(

I`ve not yet been arrested in a country to test the theory out.

I'm a dual national. Australian born with a spanish father, entitling me to spanish citizenship.
As far as I know there havn't been any conflicting issues. Though at the Madrid airport I was questioned as to why my spanish was so bad, haha.
When I travel I use both passports, in Europe I'll use the spanish one, and asia area and other english speaking countries I'll use the Australian (except UK).
If I go to a somewhat unsafe country I plan to use my australian passport only because I think I could communicate better with the australian authorities if anything were to happen. (i'm yet to research policies etc. as to whether or not this is the best decision).

Santi,

"I`ve not yet been arrested in a country to test the theory out. "

to be honest I think you should go for it as part of essential research for the good of this forum.

Suggest you try Switzerland or Sweden where I hear the prisons services are very amenable.

Keep us posted.

> Santi,

"I`ve not yet been arrested in a country to test the theory out. "

to be honest I think you should go for it as part of essential research for the good of this forum.

Suggest you try Switzerland or Sweden where I hear the prisons services are very amenable.

Keep us posted.


I shall give it my best shot.

Which crime would be best though ?

The Swiss and Swedes don`t have the best sense of humour, this will need to be important, i though about drug`s.

Do you think that would work in Swizerlandia. :)

If you are thinking of Switzerland - try starting a political party to ban Cuckoo clocks and completely undermine their economy, crime of treason or Sweden - how about campaigning to get Saabs banned due to their ugliness ? (Problem is they are no longer Swedish?) Plan B - No more screenings of Mama Mia!

Just copied this from a Lawyers site regarding Dual Nationality.

3. Double nationality
In most cases persons taking out or applying for Spanish nationality will have to renounce their present citizenship. The only exemptions from this rule are the nationals from Latin America and the other countries with special relations with Spain.

A Spanish adult citizen may lose his citizenship if he resides habitually in another country and takes the nationality of the other country. The ones who have become Spanish citizens by application, may lose it again by a court sentence. Under certain circumstances, they may apply to get their citizenship back again.

So, the law is clear: If you apply for Spanish citizenship, not coming from Latin America or any of the other country Spain has had special relations with, not forsaking your present citizenship, Spain has the right to revoke your Spanish nationality when they find out.

> Just copied this from a Lawyers site regarding Dual Nationality.

3. Double nationality
In most cases persons taking out or applying for Spanish nationality will have to renounce their present citizenship. The only exemptions from this rule are the nationals from Latin America and the other countries with special relations with Spain.

A Spanish adult citizen may lose his citizenship if he resides habitually in another country and takes the nationality of the other country. The ones who have become Spanish citizens by application, may lose it again by a court sentence. Under certain circumstances, they may apply to get their citizenship back again.

So, the law is clear: If you apply for Spanish citizenship, not coming from Latin America or any of the other country Spain has had special relations with, not forsaking your present citizenship, Spain has the right to revoke your Spanish nationality when they find out.


Makes us feel proud to be British huh.... Always get screwed one way another when other countries can do it Brits Can't!

Well anyway I was told I can keep my Dual Nationality for the last 20 years or soo.... F THEM!

>

Makes us feel proud to be British huh.... Always get screwed one way another when other countries can do it Brits Can't!

Well anyway I was told I can keep my Dual Nationality for the last 20 years or soo.... F THEM!


Don`t blame Britain, they accept Dual Nationality.

Its the Spanish that don`t.

Although the consulate does refuse services to a Dual National if there required in the country your a National of.

So if I get myself arrested in Spain and I call the UK consulate for help, they`ll tell me to go away and call my Spanish countrymen.

Who will probably beat me sensless, especially if I`m in Catalunia.

> [quote author="MAC31" date="1250001852"]

Makes us feel proud to be British huh.... Always get screwed one way another when other countries can do it Brits Can't!

Well anyway I was told I can keep my Dual Nationality for the last 20 years or soo.... F THEM!


Don`t blame Britain, they accept Dual Nationality.

Its the Spanish that don`t.

Although the consulate does refuse services to a Dual National if there required in the country your a National of.

So if I get myself arrested in Spain and I call the UK consulate for help, they`ll tell me to go away and call my Spanish countrymen.

Who will probably beat me sensless, especially if I`m in Catalunia.[/quote]

Awwww Thats not fair statement about Catalonia....... As The Truth Is :-

First they will be arrogant at you... Talk to you in there French Spanish Language then they will beat seven tones of Shite of you...

Afterwards they will rehabilitate you into the Catalan person ie.... You be closed rude arrogant generally not a nice person?

What happens if you renounce your UK citizenship? Say you renounce it while living in Spain, but then move back... since you're a native born Brit would they give you back your citizenship? Just wondering..

I am not sure...

At a guess no they would not just hand me back my British passport... as I will have to re-apply for British Citizenship (Total Guess)

I am sure Santi will update Post with correct info.

Rgds

Mac

Have you moved to Spain yet Sally?

Hello all! Just signed up because I was looking for information regarding dual American/Spanish citizenship. I am an American (but a good guy, really!) born of Mexican parents, so Spanish residency and citizenship by way of parentage is out. However I am married to a Peruvian woman who is still in Peru while we work out the immigration paperwork (US govt thinks everyone is a terrorist).

It has been mentioned that Spain has special relationships with certain Latin American countries and will grant expedited residency to their citizens. Does anyone know specifically which countries those might be? I wonder if Peru is among them? Interesting that they consider the Philippines a "special" country due to their past status as a Spanish colony yet there is no language connection. I'm hoping that all Latin American countries would get the same treatment, but I doubt it. If anyone knows, I'd be grateful for the info, thanks.

Hi,

I?m a dual national as an American born with a Spanish father which entitled me to recuperate Spanish nationality without having to renounce my American nationality. Since I just went though the process a few short months ago, it was an interesting experience. I am looking forward to early retirement (within next two years) in Spain and plan to take my first trip as a Spanish national within the next few months. I don't anticipate any problems and I do speak Spanish well.(although not the Castillan Spanish, but rather Latin American Spanish). ;-P

> Hello all! Just signed up because I was looking for information regarding dual American/Spanish citizenship. I am an American (but a good guy, really!) born of Mexican parents, so Spanish residency and citizenship by way of parentage is out. However I am married to a Peruvian woman who is still in Peru while we work out the immigration paperwork (US govt thinks everyone is a terrorist).

It has been mentioned that Spain has special relationships with certain Latin American countries and will grant expedited residency to their citizens. Does anyone know specifically which countries those might be? I wonder if Peru is among them? Interesting that they consider the Philippines a "special" country due to their past status as a Spanish colony yet there is no language connection. I'm hoping that all Latin American countries would get the same treatment, but I doubt it. If anyone knows, I'd be grateful for the info, thanks.


ernman,
spain does NOT grant expedited residency to anybody just because that person is a citizen of latin america.
if a legal resident wants to apply for spanish citizenship, and he or she is a citizen of portugal, andorra or any of the former colonies of spain and portugal in south america, ex colonies of spain in north america and the caribean, africa (equatorial guinea) and asia (the philippines, yes virginia) or if this person is a sephardic jew, then the acumulated residency requirement is reduced to two years.
the language spoken in portugal and brazil is portuguese. so you might also wonder why they are included since they have no language connection to spain.
there are more spanish speakers in the usa, so would you wonder why US citizens are not included in the reduced residency requirement?
as a US citizen, you will have to accumulate 10 years residency before you can apply, of course, you can always recover you mexican citizenship. but i think your peruvian wife would rather be a US citizen first before anything else.

> What happens if you renounce your UK citizenship? Say you renounce it while living in Spain, but then move back... since you're a native born Brit would they give you back your citizenship? Just wondering..


Nothing happens.

You cannot loose citizenship.

On a similar note, we are just about to have a baby, Im British and my partner is Spanish.
She will be born in Spain. Am i right in assuming that my child will have the right to a British passport? How does it work and what is the process etc. We are in Madrid, if anyone has passed through the same thing I'd appreciate any help.

Many thanks

nathan

> [...]
Although the Spaniards do not accept Dual Nationality, I had to swear allegance to the King and surrender my UK Passport.

Although being all things Spanish, they cannot force me too as I`m from a country who accepts dual nationality.[...]


Did they seriously make you hand over your UK passport to them? When naturalizing a Spanish citizen and not from one of the Ibero-American countries which Spain has a dual citizenship treaty with, do they actually want you to present a certificate of renouncing your former citizenship from your country?s embassy/consulate? Or is this just a statement you give to them saying that you have renounced and they don?t bother you afterward?

[/quote]

Did they seriously make you hand over your UK passport to them? When naturalizing a Spanish citizen and not from one of the Ibero-American countries which Spain has a dual citizenship treaty with, do they actually want you to present a certificate of renouncing your former citizenship from your country?s embassy/consulate? Or is this just a statement you give to them saying that you have renounced and they don?t bother you afterward?[/quote]

perejil,
one loses his citizenship according to the laws of the corresponding country. you can renounce, say your american citizenship in front of a spanish judge when you swear allegiance to the king and constitution, until lose your voice. but as far as the united states is concerned, you are still american. why? because the usa or uk or etc have specific laws governing citizenship loss. you have to consult the consulate of your country on this matter.

Right. Some countries (like Norway) want to see a certificate of loss of citizenship though before completing the naturalization. So, in Spain, they basically just ask if you renounced and you say yes? However, this could essentially be lying under oath for someone and wouldn?t that be subject to criminal penalties? Are there any laws against holding another passport from a country which Spain doesn?t have a dual treaty with when one naturalizes?

I know that now it?s possible to not lose Spanish nationality upon acquiring another citizenship, as long as one informs the nearest Spanish embassy/consulate of their decision. Spain has also denounced Chapter I of the EU convention on reducing the cases of multiple nationality and military obligations. Therefore, it is rather silly that they haven?t amended their laws to just allow dual citizenship outright, as the only time it seems to be an issue is when one naturalizes. Do you think it?s only a matter of time before it is allowed across the board?

You have to hand back your UK passport.

You use your Spanish passport for travel, you don't loose your rights to UK consulate services and all the other rights of a sole UK passport holder unless your in Spain or her colonies, but you have to contact the Spanish for help and support, as any other national would.

There is very little you would need UK consulate services for, the main need is if you ever want to give up your Spanish nationality and return to being a UK passport holder.

As in you had to fork it over to the UK or Spanish government? Are you saying that you just can?t be in possession of that passport while you?re in Spain as a Spanish citizen?

> As in you had to fork it over to the UK or Spanish government? Are you saying that you just can?t be in possession of that passport while you?re in Spain as a Spanish citizen?


as far as i can remember they just called out the names of people, this way -- mr so and so, renouncing his so so citizenship.- -- he then comes forward and reads the oath and signs it.

it may have changed now. but it is not the way one loses citizenship for usa or uk passport holders.

i have two passports, some friends have 3 passports (american, filipino, and spanish).
while in spain, i use my spanish documents.
when i leave spain i use my spanish passport, but when i enter the philippines i use both to enter and leave.
when i arrive in europe, i use my spanish passport.
common sense will tell you which one to use where and when.

Very cool. It would be interesting to know how things have changed since then (if they have).

I have a follow up question on this:

When one naturalizes a Spanish citizen and is not from one of the countries that Spain signed a dual citizenship treaty, is it actually illegal under Spanish law to still possess the other nationality and have a passport from that country? I understand during the citizenship ceremony that one swears allegiance to the king and renounces any former nationality, so perhaps lying to the state in this case could be punishable? How severe is this offense (if any)? Please, advise.

> I have a follow up question on this:

When one naturalizes a Spanish citizen and is not from one of the countries that Spain signed a dual citizenship treaty, is it actually illegal under Spanish law to still possess the other nationality and have a passport from that country? I understand during the citizenship ceremony that one swears allegiance to the king and renounces any former nationality, so perhaps lying to the state in this case could be punishable? How severe is this offense (if any)? Please, advise.


perejil,
it is not illegal.
it is not lying.
say for example, you renounced your usa citizenship when you swore allegiance to the king and the constitution.
and you decided later on you want to recover your usa citizenship and you did. did you lie?
first of all, it is not a felony. there is no article penalizing this in the spanish penal code. so there is no punishment.
your first problem is to get legal residency.
cross the bridge when you reach it.

Hi everyone! I have a question- my mother is Spanish, but when she married my English father she had to change her passport to British and change her sirname to my father's because he was in the British army. She and I now both live in Madrid and we want to have Spanish passports, but we have no idea how to go about this. We have my grandmother's DNI, but of course it isn't my sirname, nor my mother's and we aren't sure where to start, where to go, who to ask etc.etc. I am sure my mother could find something with her name on it and her maiden name, then would it be possible for her to get her spanish passport back? After she does this, what do I have to do in order to get dual nationality? Life here would be much easier with a DNI!!! Thanks a lot in advance :-)

> Hi everyone! I have a question- my mother is Spanish, but when she married my English father she had to change her passport to British and change her sirname to my father's because he was in the British army. She and I now both live in Madrid and we want to have Spanish passports, but we have no idea how to go about this.


did your mother renounce her spanish citizenship at the consulate? or did she just stop renewing her spanish passport? did your mother keep her old spanish passport and dni?


> what do I have to do in order to get dual nationality? Life here would be much easier with a DNI!!! Thanks a lot in advance :-)


if your mother did not register your birth at the spanish consulate, you will have to be registered at the spanish consulate in the uk. you will need to submit them your british birth certificate, together with other documents they will require you. once you have your spanish birth certificate, the consulate will issue you the passport and you you can get the "literal version" of that birth certificate to get the dni here in madrid.


> Life here would be much easier with a DNI!!! Thanks a lot in advance :-)


remember that to get the dni means going thru lot of paperwork, change of names, numbers, ...

Hi! Thanks so much for replying quickly!
You mentioned that I should go to the Spanish consulate in the UK, but I live, work and study in Madrid. I don't really want to have to go to London to get a Spanish passport... is it impossible for me to start the process in Spain??
You mentioned I need my British birth certificate, what else do you think I will need- or how can I find out what I will need? Is there a website or something?
Thanks again for the great help!

> Hi! Thanks so much for replying quickly!
You mentioned that I should go to the Spanish consulate in the UK, but I live, work and study in Madrid. I don't really want to have to go to London to get a Spanish passport... is it impossible for me to start the process in Spain??
You mentioned I need my British birth certificate, what else do you think I will need- or how can I find out what I will need? Is there a website or something?
Thanks again for the great help!


the first document that you have to submit in all cases is your british birth certificate, with the apostille attached to it and translated into spanish and that is done in the uk. it proves your filiation. since i do not think you have it with you here in madrid, you have to get it in london.

if you go to london, the consulate can start the process and i honestly think it may faster because you avoid the long lines in madrid, i may be wrong, but there are so many immigrants applying for citizenship. you might want to call the consulate in london to ask what they require and how long it takes.

if you decide to do it here, you have to authorize someone to get that document in london.

you also need your mother's birth certificate, here's how to get it
http://www2.mjusticia.es/cs/Satellite/es/1200666550200/Tramite_C/1214483947232/Detalle.html#plazo
get at least 2 copies.

did your mother give up her spanish citizenship officialy at the consulate in london before you were born, or did she just stop renewing her passport?
her giving up of her spanish citizenship should be indicated in her birth certificate, if so she has to recover it.
http://www.mjusticia.es/cs/Satellite?pagename=Portal_del_Derecho/Page/PreguntasFreqs&c=Page&cid=1151913189133&p=1151913189133&menu_activo=1151913189133&lang=es_es&idTematica=1070283376284&idColFaqs=1070283376267

if she did not give it up, i would suggest that she renews her dni and spanish passport.

you can apply at the registro civil in madrid or the consulate in london..

go to the ministry of justice building in the plaza benavente on a saturday morning, you may get better information.

once you have your spanish birth certificate, you can apply for your spanish passport and dni in half an hour.
some more interesting websites on this matter.
http://www.nacionalidad.com/

http://www.maec.es/SUBWEBS/CONSULADOS/LONDRES/ES/MENUPPAL/SERVICIOSCONSULARES/REGISTROCIVIL/Paginas/posting_TSW.aspx#sec4

Hi all!

I was born in London in 1978,but i live all my life in spain and have spanish nationality (my mother is spanish),

i read that people who was born before 1981 in the UK are almost certainly british citizens,

and can apply for a british passport, does somebody knows if i can have any trouble to obtain the passport

and the dual nationality?

Hi all,

I'm british, living in Spain, married to a Spaniard and have a 2 year old girl born and registered here in Spain. While i was pregnant with her I contacted the local british consulate about dual nationality for my daughter, who told me that I should definitely do it and that it was a quick and easy process. Over 2 years later, i still haven't done anything about it! Can anyone on here tell me the advantages (if any) doing so would bring my daughter and if it really is quick and easy.

Thanks all!!!