Dual citizenship for child?

Question

I am British and my husband is American. We are expecting our first child in the Summer, to be born in the US where we live.

Can I get 2 passports for my child? A British one and a US one? I intend to travel over to England to see family quite alot and just thought having 2 passports for my child would be better and easier, especially as we may even intend to live in England one day.

Im pretty sure I could get her a British passport as she would be a British citizen by descent?

Does anyone know anything about this?

Answer 1

She can have dual nationality, but she wouldn't be allowed to vote in either country, if she did she'd lose the right to the other country's citizenship.  She may also not be allowed to serve in either's armed forces, but I'm not entirely sure about that.

I would speak to the British Embassy in the US and ask how you go about getting the British Passport.

Answer 2

Nope you can't!

Even though she's British citizen by descent she's going to be born in the united states she need to have ONE passport having two would be like having two personalities and it's againg the law. If you guys decide to move back to home in a few years she can still keep that passport and it won't be a problem.

Answer 3

Sorry, but both prior answers are wrong.  Yes, your child can acquire US citizenship from one parent and UK from the other.  Yes, the child can have both passports... the only restriction is that US law says that a US citizen must enter and leave the US using a US passport; I don't know if UK law says the same.

Neither country forbids dual citizenship - there are many thousands of dual UK-US citizens.

I have no idea where the other answerer got that odd idea about voting; it's not true.

Since your child will be born in the US, you can get a passport for him/her very easily.  The child will have to appear in person.  Here is how it works:

http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/get...

And here is the UK Embassy in Washington on applying for the UK passport:

http://www.britainusa.com/sections/artic...

Answer 4

yes she would be entitled