Dual Nationality Question

[stoofur]

My daughter is half Italian, she was born in the UK and we only have British on her passport. Her Italian grandad is worried that if we vote to leave Europe that this will cause my daughter and her Italian mum problems.

He is insisting on getting my daughter dual nationality. I have no issue with this but I am wondring if it is really necessary.

What is expected to happen if we do vote to leave Europe? Do you think this dual nationality thing is worth doing?

Thanks everyone.

[Buenchico]

Your daughter already has dual nationality. It's automatic under Italy's Law 91/1992. She has exactly the same right to hold an Italian passport as anyone born to two Italian parents in Rome. (She can hold BOTH British and Italian passports if she wants to). Similarly she has the automatic right of abode in BOTH countries, irrespective of whether either or both of those countries are within or outside the EU. (As long as at least one of those countries remains in the EU then, as an EU citizen, she'll also have the right to live and work in any other EU member state).

Under the rules applying to dual nationality throughout the world, the Italian consulate can't help her if she gets into difficulties in the UK and the British consulate can't help her if she gets into difficulties in Italy. Apart from that, holding dual nationality (which, as I've stated, she has already) can't present her with any difficulties.

[stoofur]

Wow what a brilliant and quick answer. Do you think next time we are in Italy we should register my daughter in Italy? I know that my girlfriend has had to register as an Italian abroad to allow her to still vote. Otherwise how does Italy know that my daughter exists? She is just over two years old btw.

[Buenchico]

I suggest contacting the registry section of the Italian Consulate in London
http://www.conslondra.esteri.it/Consolato_Londra/Menu/I_Servizi/Per_i_cittadini/Stato_civile/
or Liverpool
http://www.it-consul.org.uk/en/other-information/registry-office

[Old_Geezer]

Wow. They allow them to vote young in Italy then !

Getting both sets of paperwork sounds a good precaution to me.