Passports - what can I do?

[DoktorMeot]

Hi all,

I'm new to the site, so apologies if this is not the correct area to post.

I'm British, born and bred, all blood relatives British also. I have just renewed my passport and applied for a first passport for my 2 year old son (both UK).

Working and living in another EU country (especially France, Holland, Belgium) has always been a viable option for me should I wish to. With Brexit and all, I'm thinking this option may disappear in the near future.

The thing is - my son's Dad was born in Latvia. With Latvia being in the EU and likely to remain there as long as they possibly can - would it be a good idea to get a Latvian passport for my son? If my son did indeed have a Latvian passport, could I apply for one? If not, would living in the EU still be an option for me given that I'm the only person responsible for my son?

I hope this makes sense to someone! Basically, I'm looking for ways and means to enable me to live and work in the EU after Brexit if I want to.

Thanks

[Deeps]

I'd try the Latvian embassy, at a guess I'd say you're lad will qualify because of his dad but I'm not sure you would. No harm in asking them though. Good luck.

[Arzosah]

We don't know whats going to happen with the UK and the EU - in one sense, you might say, it's always good to have options, so a Latvian passport for your son might be a great idea - though if you can't get one too, it might lose its appeal. The rules on whether either of you can do that must be Latvian, surely? If you're on speaking terms with your son's father, he's probably the best place to start. Or if that gives him too much potential power, the Latvian ?consulate? in this country? Or a Latvian community website? Best to know what effect that has on custody issues, maybe?

A nephew of mine married a French woman, back in 2012, and right away he went for dual nationality for himself, long before Brexit came on the horizon, because they wanted to be able to travel and not have different concerns about visas (I think that meant legacy/colonial countries). Now that they have two kids, seems like an increasingly good idea.

[korolev]

Entitlement to citizenship doesn't usually pass "upwards". If it did then you would be able to pass it on to your parents/grandparents and thus back down to your siblings/cousins.
To get Latvian citizenship for your son his father would need to apply; it seems Latvia permit dual citizenship (some countries dont).

Have a look at http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/ireland/consul ... -of-latvia - It's from Ireland but the rules will still apply.

[DoktorMeot]

Thanks for the info.

Yeah it's a tricky one, in that we have no idea what's going to happen post Brexit.

But if I have no freedom of movement within the EU, as a Brit, then you're right that a Latvian passport for my boy would quickly lose its appeal.

I guess there's no down side to him having dual citizenship though, or is there? His dad works all over the world, but is never in the UK or Latvia, so he wouldn't want custody or even be able to see him more than once a year. He is fine with helping to get a Latvian passport for him if that's what I want though.

Maybe I'm just over thinking this - as you said - we have no idea what's going to happen....

[Deeps]

I can't think of any negatives of being dual nat. I've got a (lapsed) Aussie passport and its not made much of a difference. A mate is dual nat French and he was invited to do French national service which he declined. I'd guess its worth doing for the laddie and if you can swing it, for yourself for that 'Euro'-ness. Where my missus works quite a few have got an Oirish passport on the back of a grandparent to give them options.

[DoktorMeot]

Oh yeah, that would be great - an invitation from the Latvian government to undertake some unspecified service for them - totally legit and not corrupt at all, I bet.

[korolev]

A mate is dual nat French and he was invited to do French national service which he declined.

That reminds me of a bloke I used to work with who was half-Greek; he's lived in the UK all his life, doesn't speak a word of Greek but when he was a kid his dad registered him as a Greek citizen.
Aged about 21 he got a similar letter, in Greek. Over the next few years he got several letters, all looking very offical and he was convinced if he set foot in Greece he'd get done for desertion. So, for 20+ years, he avoided going there to meet relatives, family weddings, holidays etc.
Finally we got a boss who was fluent in Greek and he said "I'll translate the letters for you".
He took the letters home and, 2 days later, between paroxysms of laughter told him they said that as he lived in the UK he was excused and the last one said he was now too old.

[Deeps]

A mate is dual nat French and he was invited to do French national service which he declined.

That reminds me of a bloke I used to work with who was half-Greek; he's lived in the UK all his life, doesn't speak a word of Greek but when he was a kid his dad registered him as a Greek citizen.
Aged about 21 he got a similar letter, in Greek. Over the next few years he got several letters, all looking very offical and he was convinced if he set foot in Greece he'd get done for desertion. So, for 20+ years, he avoided going there to meet relatives, family weddings, holidays etc.
Finally we got a boss who was fluent in Greek and he said "I'll translate the letters for you".
He took the letters home and, 2 days later, between paroxysms of laughter told him they said that as he lived in the UK he was excused and the last one said he was now too old.

Similar to my mate, he got the letter in French but his mum translated it for him. Bless.

[Bijela]

If the child has 2nd passport, then "traveling across Europe" in that sort of direction would reduce questions. We see it when at Euro tunnel. We spend less time at passport control than others