Benefits Of Dual Passports

m00c0w04

Hi all,

I am a Brit who currently only has an Irish passport. What I am thinking about are the benefits (or any potential drawbacks) of applying for a British passport now and holding both passports concurrently.

Benefits that I can think of:

• Consular assistance from the embassies of both the UK and Ireland if I run into difficulties when abroad
• Maximising the number of countries I can travel to without a visa, assuming there are some countries that have a visa exemption for Brits and not for Irish citizens
• Ability to perform some tasks online via gov.uk that can only be done online with a British passport

Drawbacks that I can think of:

• Extra costs involved in British passport application

Can anyone think of something else that I am missing?

Specifically, I would also like to consider the pro's and cons of living and working abroad with multiple passports if anyone has any thoughts on that?

Many thanks!

TripleH

I'd check as some countries get funny about their citizens having dual nationality / passports although I don't think getting a British one when you have an Irish one is an issue.

NoodleDoodleMan

An Irish passport will be a plus once the UK exits the EU.

martindow

It could be an advantage if certain countries put UK arrivals in long queues while EU residents can use shorter queues or electronic gates.  Maybe wait to see what happens next year to see what changes.

I'm not sure whether two passports will help with consular assistance - you could end up being passed back and forth between Irish and UK consulates.

suki1964

If you have an Irish one, there's no point in getting a British one. With the Irish one you will still have free movement within the EU, you won't with a British one

Ive been holding off renewing my passport ( thankfully I did ) and will be getting an Irish one this time around

NoodleDoodleMan

"I'm not sure whether two passports will help with consular assistance - you could end up being passed back and forth between Irish and UK consulates."

Good point - you would (presumably) have to seek assistance from the country on whose passport you entered on.

Also, I expect the British government will have a much larger network of Embassies and Consular representatives across the world.

smudge56

martindow said:

I'm not sure whether two passports will help with consular assistance - you could end up being passed back and forth between Irish and UK consulates.

Holding a British passport automatically gives you entitlement to consular assistance. Part of the passport fee is to pay for this.  It will make no difference if you have dual nationality. If you are a British citizen you are entitled to all the benefits a British passport gives you. 

Voyager2002

Well now... if I were entitled to an Irish passport I would get one like a shot. You already have one: lucky you. I struggle to think of any benefits that you would gain by holding a British passport as well: if you planned a visit to a country that required visas from Irish citizens but not British ones you could at that point get a British passport (I cannot think of any such countries). As for consular assistance: my experience of British consular assistance is that it has never been any use.

NoodleDoodleMan

Applying for an Irish passport for other nationals who are eligible to do so is both expensive and bureaucratic - and can take many months to be completed through the system.

I have the right to apply through my paternal grandmother - the fee is/was 700 Euro plus a stack of birth and marriage certificates covering parents and grandparents as well as my own - plus copies of all. If successful that puts you on the register - from where there is the additional cost for the actual passport.

Another downside is that Irish citizenship would end with me - spouses, children and grandchildren do not qualify.

eamon

I have both as well and I'm a UK citizen/resident. The UK passport is just for providing evidence if I ever get asked that I'm entitled to 1) be here, 2) allowed to work here, 3) allowed to rent a property here, 4) apply for a National Rail discount card, 5) prove my entitlement to NHS treatment. I use my Irish passport for crossing borders.

martindow

eamon said:

I have both as well and I'm a UK citizen/resident..... I use my Irish passport for crossing borders.

Does that have practical advantages over using your UK passport?