Child citizinship

[Mooner]

I am expecting a child soon and i was wondering as a UK passport holder what right/chances would my child to obtain a UK citizinship/passport and the procedure involved.

Thanks in advance

[brewsterbudgen]

You just apply for the child's passport and as long as one parent is British otherwise than by descent (i.e. was born in the UK or naturalised) the passport should be issued.  There is no need to apply for Citizenship.  The application is straightforward but needs to be submitted at the Passport Office at the Trendy in Bangkok, together with the certified photos and other evidence.  It's then sent to Liverpool where the passport is issued, and you collect it from The Trendy.  My son's took about 2 weeks.

[Mooner]

Thanks for that. So your child was born here and you went through this procedure.

That means your son has dual nationality right? I read somewhere it wasnt allowed here

[brewsterbudgen]

2 minutes ago, Mooner said:

Thanks for that. So your child was born here and you went through this procedure.

That means your son has dual nationality right? I read somewhere it wasnt allowed here

Yes my son was born in Thailand and we got him his UK passport when he was about 8 months old.  His mother is from Laos and citizens of Laos are not allowed dual nationality, so he is only British.  However, Thai citizens can have dual nationality.

[Mooner]

49 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Yes my son was born in Thailand and we got him his UK passport when he was about 8 months old.  His mother is from Laos and citizens of Laos are not allowed dual nationality, so he is only British.  However, Thai citizens can have dual nationality.

Thanks. Just read at 18 they need to choose thier nationality as Thailand doesnt allow dual nationality after 18.

Anyway a long way off and not my choice

[GarryP]

4 minutes ago, Mooner said:

Thanks. Just read at 18 they need to choose thier nationality as Thailand doesnt allow dual nationality after 18.

Anyway a long way off and not my choice

My son is 28 and holds both Thai and UK passports as do I now.

[7by7]

For details of how to apply etc., see Overseas British passport applications.

 

You will need your full birth certificate to show that you are British not by descent. If you do not have it, then you can order a copy. See here if you were born in England or Wales, or the relevant link from that page if born in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

 

You may find the first part of British citizenship basics useful.

 

If you want to be absolutely sure that your child will be British, then see Check if you're a British citizen; remember you are answering the questions on behalf of your child.

 

Unless you are in Thailand on Crown service or similar, then your child will be British by descent. This means that they cannot automatically pass their British citizenship onto their children unless those children are born in the UK or a qualifying territory.

Edited September 19, 2017 by 7by7

[GarryP]

18 minutes ago, 7by7 said:

For details of how to apply etc., see Overseas British passport applications.

 

You will need your full birth certificate to show that you are British not by descent. If you do not have it, then you can order a copy. See here if you were born in England or Wales, or the relevant link from that page if born in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

 

You may find the first part of British citizenship basics useful.

 

If you want to be absolutely sure that your child will be British, then see Check if you're a British citizen; remember you are answering the questions on behalf of your child.

 

Unless you are in Thailand on Crown service or similar, then your child will be British by descent. This means that they cannot automatically pass their British citizenship onto their children unless those children are born in the UK or a qualifying territory.

I know my son is in the category that does not pass on British citizenship to his children. However, perhaps, based on what you have said, he could temporarily move to the UK with his wife to give birth in the UK, thereby gaining citizenship for his child too. Is that practical. Just a hypothetical question as he does not even have a wife yet.

[7by7]

22 minutes ago, GarryP said:

I know my son is in the category that does not pass on British citizenship to his children. However, perhaps, based on what you have said, he could temporarily move to the UK with his wife to give birth in the UK, thereby gaining citizenship for his child too. Is that practical. Just a hypothetical question as he does not even have a wife yet.

 If born in the UK, or a qualifying territory, then your son's children would inherit his citizenship.

 

Bear in mind, though, that if his wife is in the UK as a visitor she would not be entitled to give birth in an NHS hospital but would have to do so privately and pay for the treatment. That her husband, the father, is British doesn't change this, he, too, would not be entitled to NHS treatment whilst in the UK as a visitor as entitlement is based upon residency, not nationality. Visitors are only entitled to initial treatment in A&E and a few other situations where the public health is at risk.

 

Of course, were they to come to the UK to take up residency, for which his wife would need a settlement visa, then they both would be entitled to the full range of NHS services.

 

If born outside the UK, were they all to move to the UK to live then he would then be able to register them as British and they would be British not by descent.

 

Of course, were their mother British not by descent, then they would be British wherever they were born as they would inherit citizenship from her.

Edited September 19, 2017 by 7by7
Correct typo and addendum