Triple Citizenship For Child

[NordicMan]

My wife (finally) got pregnant and we started thinking about what citizenship the child will get.

I'm a Norwegian, living and working in UK. I am "settled" in the UK, with a residency permit. Wife is Thai, on a EEA family-permit (valid for 5 years). We have been here 3 years now.

It is possible that she will give birth in UK, but that depends on my work commitments (possible relocation coming up shortly), and whether it would be benefitial to give birth in Norway or Thailand instead.

The citizenship is a bit confusing to us...

UK:

If you were born in the United Kingdom on or after 1 January 1983, you are a British citizen if at the time of your birth one of your parents was:

a British citizen; or

legally settled in the United Kingdom.

http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishci.../?view=Standard

Norway:

Children born after August 31st 2006

According to the current law, a child with a Norwegian mother or father acquires Norwegian citizenship by birth. This applies no matter if the child is born in Norway or abroad, and no matter if the parents were married or not.

http://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=8706

Thailand:

BY DESCENT: Child born in wedlock, either of whose parents is a citizen of Thailand, regardless of the child's country of birth.

http://emigrateblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/t...itizenship.html (not an official source of information but I can't find anything better)

As I see it, the kid will automatically become both British and Norwegian if born in UK, but what about the Thai?

Is it even possible to have 3 citizenships? I assume not, as I have never heard of it. Assume we need to consider what are the two most practical citizenships?

many thanks for any advice

nm

[donx]

I can't comment about either the UK or Norwegian citizenship situations, but I know that your child will be able to obtain Thai citizenship no matter where she/he is born, so there is no real advantage to having the birth take place in Thailand. My children were all born in the US and are all dual US/Thai citizens with both US and Thai passports - except the youngest. She is less than 2 years old and we haven't applied for the Thai passport yet. She does have both US and Thai birth certificates. My wife thinks getting her a Thai passport is a waste of money since they are only good for 5 years and the children are all allowed to travel freely with their mother to/from Thailand.

[the scouser]

If born in the UK, your child will be Thai, but as things stand, won't be British. You are not construed as being settled in the UK until such a time as you have permanent residence, and you will only get this once you have been in the UK for five years.

If born in the UK, your child will not require permission to stay there, until such a time as s/he travels abroad and seeks to return. At that point, you may wish to get a family permit for him/her.

Also, keep an eye on the Norwegian authorities as they don't appear to recognise dual nationality. The Thai wife of a Norwegian friend recently naturalised as a Norwegian citizen and the authorities impounded her Thai passport and returned it to the Thai embassy in Oslo who, in turn, advised her it had been cancelled. Of course this might be different in the case of a child who will be acquiring Norwegian citizenship as an entitlement rather than through naturalisation.

Scouse.

[the scouser]

If born in the UK, your child will not require permission to stay there, until such a time as s/he travels abroad and seeks to return. At that point, you may wish to get a family permit for him/her.

The above only applies if the child travels on a Thai passport. If s/he travels on a Norwegian passport, then, of course, s/he won't require any pre-clearance to enter the UK.

Additionally, once you have done five years in the UK and have your permanent residency, you could, if you wish, then register your child as a British citizen. There is nothing in principle preventing your child possessing three nationalities.

Scouse.

[NordicMan]

Many thanks for replies, very helpful indeed. I will check with the Norwegian embassy regarding the policy towards dual citizenship by birth.

cheers

nm

[expatwannabe]

I think you should try for all three because it would be "fun."

[torrenova]

My ex was Japanese (I am a UK passport holder) and we went through this as I was working in Hong Kong, Germany and potentially the USA and though the Japanese authorities do ask that you choose a nationality at either 18 or 21, there is nothing they can do to stop you holding 3 passports. Had she fallen pregnant, we thought seriously about the USA and that would have brought UK, USA and Japanese nationalities.

[thaihome]

The son of a friend holds Canadian, US and Australian passports. Mother and father both hold Canadian and Australian and the kid was born in the US while father was working there.

TH

[thickaspigdirt]

I think you should try for all three because it would be "fun."

Fun sure! cheap no.