[Tia Maria]

I'm flying back to the UK with my 6 month old baby. He was born in New Zealand and as we have PR he has a NZ birth certificate and NZ citizenship.

I have sorted out his NZ passport, but not his UK passport.

So my question is this, will he need some kind of visa, as he won't have any proof that he is entitled to enter the UK?

Anyone done this - travelled with one passport while having dual nationality?

Cheers

Tia

[wiki]

The UK passport office email advice link is here http://www.passport.gov.uk/contact_generalenq.asp

I've not done this (I only got my dual passport when I was 21 so it wasn't an issue for me) but I'd imagine you would need a Visa to go in. Were you going to register bub in UK while you were over?

Actually forget that!

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/UKVisasDoINeedAVisa?url=%2Fservlet%2FFront%3Fpagen ame%3DOpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage%26c%3DPage %26cid%3D1006977149962&purpose=Visitor%2Ftourist&nationality=New+Zealand&location=New+Zealand

Is a link for the Home Office UK Visa page - as long as bub isn't planning on staying more than six months, and considering you'll both be on UK passports it should be fine!

[Trigirl]

he wouldn't need a visa anyway - kiwi nationals don't need one for a less than 6 month visit.

[Tia Maria]

Thanks guys, that's one less thing to worry about!

Cheers

Tia

[Sean-n-Judy]

Tia,

How did you sort out your baby's NZ passport? We are permanent residents and our baby was born in NZ on January 12th. We plan on returning to the UK later this year and need to sort out his passport. Any info on how to start this process would be helpful.

Thanks,
Judy

[Park City Partner]

I don't remember where we got the application but you could look on-line or call...maybe the Post Shop would know. Have you registered for her birth certificate yet? They should have given you something from the hopsital to do this as you will need it for the passport application.

The trickiest thing is that you need a photo of bubs with eyes open, mouth shut and both ears showing...good luck....hope you have a digitial camera as you will have to take loads of them to get one that will work...oh and the background has to be a certain color (check application). Then you just print the photos and complete the application. One note the app requires a witness who has known the baby that isn't a family member so you might get a friend or your mid-wife to do this for you...then you just pay the fee and mail the app and back it comes. Easy.

Good luck with those photos.

[jubjub]

http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Passports-Index?OpenDocument

Here you go, everything you need to know and the form, it does have example sheets of what the photo should look like

I got my pics printed by www.frogprints.co.nz (http://www.frogprints.co.nz) once I had picked one I was happy with.

[Tia Maria]

Judy, I hope you're getting some sleep with such a young baby, I'll look out for your 2am posts!

Yes the way I got the passport thing sorted was to ask Jub Jub, and as I can see she's already sorted out the links!

I've got to agree with Park City Partner the hardest bit is the photo, so do check out the photo section of the passport website.

I took his cot mattress and placed it next to the window for natural light. Then after a nap, while he was reasonably placid, I laid him on the mattress (we used a cream sheet) and set the digital camera to take multiple shots. I'd say out of about 40 we got 1 decent shot, so don't attempt this with a normal camera. Then like Jub Jub, we used frogprints who have a passport photo section.

I think we enclosed his birth certificate and got a school dad with a NZ passport to sign the photo.

The UK passport office aren't as strict after a revolt by parents with wriggly babies, but obviuosly you can just use the same photo as you did for the NZ one.

Cheers

Tia

[Sean-n-Judy]

Thanks all. This information is really helpful. I have the NZ birth certificate now so I can get started.

[tick tock]

Hi My children have more than one passport and I have gone through this.....they can enter the UK but will be treated as a foriginer...my 3 month old was given a stamp that said...not permited to work!!!!. When you get his UK passport ( and I advise you to get it )use the Uk one to enter and leave the UK and his NZ to do the same here
I strongly advise any one who is entitled too, get their children registered with the UK consulate and GET A PASSPORT. I was born outside the UK and My parents didnt do this for me thinking all would be OK.. The goverment changed the law and I spent a long time fighting to get it..in the end ( 30 years! )they had to chnge the law but it was a long hard fight.

[nippa&pippa]

Hi My children have more than one passport and I have gone through this.....they can enter the UK but will be treated as a foriginer...my 3 month old was given a stamp that said...not permited to work!!!!. When you get his UK passport ( and I advise you to get it )use the Uk one to enter and leave the UK and his NZ to do the same here
I strongly advise any one who is entitled too, get their children registered with the UK consulate and GET A PASSPORT. I was born outside the UK and My parents didnt do this for me thinking all would be OK.. The goverment changed the law and I spent a long time fighting to get it..in the end ( 30 years! )they had to chnge the law but it was a long hard fight.

And also end up with few birth certificates like i did...three! one registered for birth at jamaica hosptial instead homebirth as common in Jamaica:roll , one registered for Jamaica birth certificate and one registered at high commission of United Kingdom in jamaica.
Do this extra birth certificate of High commission of UK still happen now as it was back in 70's?

[tick tock]

My children didnt get a birth cert from the UK embassey more of a cert of registraton to say they where British and had the right to claim c/ship. My understanding is that if you are born outside of the UK it is a way to prove the right to claim c/ship

[Super_BQ]

tick tock,


use the Uk one to enter and leave the UK and his NZ to do the same here

It's strongly advised NOT TO travel using 2 passports as this will only create more trouble and confusion with the immigration & customs boarder personnels. When you depart with 1 passport (ie leaving NZ), it will create confusion at the other end when you present a different passport (UK). Of course if both passports are linked, then that's ok.

If you travel to or through the US, you will be asked to present BOTH passports. (computer shows it & linked). Most countries that don't recognise dual nationalities (US, Japan, China, etc.) have the habit of being VERY STICKY and will give visitors a hard time just because they have 2 passports. I speak from experience...

Many of the international airports have this new expedited check-in service where you enter in your passport # in the machine and it prints out your boarding pass. Database shows where you travelled from and to. But if you use different passports here and there... you're just asking for more troubles.

BQ

[tick tock]

I have two pasports ...UK and USA..and have been doing this for years> I swop according to Visa requirments. My children are the same.

You should always carry both passports but I have to say that the UK Immigration has Never been a problem. The USA can be tricky but I have been advised by the consulate to always enter the USA on my American passport.

I think it is different if you are leaving and entering a counrty for with you have citizenship rather than just a forgin counrty.

Ie if I am goint to say Africa from the Uk I would soly use my UK pasport. If i was going Africa to India I would chose one passport to travel on.

However on visits to the USA from the UK and visa-versa I have been leaving the UK on a Uk passport and entering the USA on US passport.

You should bare in mind that some counties like the USA do not like it if you have been naturalized for citizenship and do not give up your previous Nationality. As a USA born person you can hold duel Nationality but you have restrictions...ie should'nt work for a frogin goverment

I think travel between NZ and UK should be fine...just check with the British High Com.

Just bare in mind that the reason I always travel into the UK on a UK passport is the last time I didnt, I waited in the que at H/row for 3HOURS!!

[Croft]

I have two pasports ...UK and USA..and have been doing this for years> I swop according to Visa requirments. My children are the same.

You should always carry both passports but I have to say that the UK Immigration has Never been a problem. The USA can be tricky but I have been advised by the consulate to always enter the USA on my American passport.

I think it is different if you are leaving and entering a counrty for with you have citizenship rather than just a forgin counrty.

Ie if I am goint to say Africa from the Uk I would soly use my UK pasport. If i was going Africa to India I would chose one passport to travel on.

However on visits to the USA from the UK and visa-versa I have been leaving the UK on a Uk passport and entering the USA on US passport.

You should bare in mind that some counties like the USA do not like it if you have been naturalized for citizenship and do not give up your previous Nationality. As a USA born person you can hold duel Nationality but you have restrictions...ie should'nt work for a frogin goverment

I think travel between NZ and UK should be fine...just check with the British High Com.

Just bare in mind that the reason I always travel into the UK on a UK passport is the last time I didnt, I waited in the que at H/row for 3HOURS!!

If you wish to avoid any problems using different passports on your trip and you're British (or in certain circumstances of British descent, or previously married to a British person) just get a "Right of Abode" sticker in your NZ (or other Commonwealth) passport. You are then "entirely free from United Kingdom immigration control. You do not need to obtain the permission of an immigration officer to enter the United Kingdom, and you may live and work here without restriction." (Link here (http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/applying/rightofabode)).

Remember, unless you've formally renounced (http://bhc.britaus.net/passports/passportsdefault.asp?id=374#who_can) British citizenship, you are still British, even if you've never had a passport or it's long since expired.

Edited to add - I just remember reading in the NZIS documentation that you can get an RRV in you non-NZ passport, even if you have an NZ one but you use your non-NZ passport for travel purposes.

[Super_BQ]

You should bare in mind that some counties like the USA do not like it if you have been naturalized for citizenship and do not give up your previous Nationality. As a USA born person you can hold duel Nationality but you have restrictions...ie should'nt work for a frogin goverment

Millions in of Americans worldwide hold more than 1 passport. But it's important to note that the US does not recognise dual nationalities. Hence the reason why you should use your US passport upon entering and leaving the US. For reasons such as patriotism? Maybe if a 'half' American has trouble in a foreign country, then perhaps the US gov't won't go out and rescue you when travelling on a different passport - ie cases of hostage kidnappings to civil wars. One thing I know is the US is good at helping their citizens in dire troubles overseas while other (British decent countries?) have limited power and resources to perform the same tasks.

BQ

[tick tock]

"One thing I know is the US is good at helping their citizens in dire troubles overseas while other (British decent countries?) have limited power and resources to perform the same tasks. "

This is so true... I know from expereance.....and one of the reasons I and my Children will always Keep our US passports.

I have been in a position where we may have had to be evaced. The British Embassy was at a loss at what to do and stated that IF they did evac only UK Citizens would be allowed on there planes.... even if you had family who held other passports .
When I asked the US officer if my husband, who holds only a UK passport, would be allowed to be evaced with me, I got a very puzzled look and a reply of " of course hes your family"!!!

I know I have said this before but I really advise anyone who is entiled to any passport get it sooner rather than later. The law does change and you can be left out in the cold. I had to fight for a long time to get my British citizenship, in the end it went to the EEC Human Rights court and while the Uk was forced to change its laws, it was a worring time as by then I was following my husband on HIS world journey and I could have found it difficult to get back in the Uk perminatly if he died.
What was really upsetting was all the UK officals tell me how they knew this was an unfair situation, and it was'nt amied really at me, but if they changed the law...." it could open the flood gates" and thats a quote from a letter from a previous Home Secratery.

Immagration laws are changing all the time. at one time you could claim Uk Citizenship if you father, etc, etc was British. Now you can only pass on your Nationalty to your children ( if they are born outside the UK ) if you have physicaly been born in the UK. SO my children do not have the right to pass on their British citizenship to any child born outside the UK.
I'm not saying this is a bad thing, just be aware that laws change and take NOTHING for granted

[nippa&pippa]

Just be prepare ahead...:o
How straight forward it is to apply for NZ passport for my son if his mother born outside UK but got British citizenship? Because I had to put extra paperworks :mad: for my UK passport as well as my UK-born children's UK passport.