Latest news with #jusSanguinis
.png%3Ftrim%3D0%2C0%2C0%2C0%26width%3D1200%26height%3D800%26crop%3D1200%3A800&w=3840&q=100)
The Independent
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
‘It feels good to say I'm Irish': How second passports grant readers post-Brexit travel freedom
As Brits grapple with the post-Brexit reality of restricted EU access, many Independent readers have been sharing why they've pursued second citizenship – and how it's reshaped their identity, freedom, and sense of belonging. Jessica Furseth's article struck a chord with those determined to reclaim their right to freedom of movement through ancestral ties, even if it meant wrestling with red tape. Her piece captured the reality of a growing trend: UK-born citizens pursuing second passports not for novelty, but necessity, reestablishing the rights they feel were stripped away by Brexit. Our readers described frantic searches through family records, cross-border paperwork marathons, and bittersweet awakenings to long-dormant heritage. Irish citizenship was the most popular route, but many also explored their Polish, German and Italian heritage. While a few wrestled with feelings of imposter syndrome, most said the outcome was worth it – not just for smoother holidays or easier work permits, but to feel connected to Europe again. The overarching view was that Brexit took something personal – and that this wave of passport reclamation isn't just administrative – it's emotional: about agency, identity, and quietly defying the walls that went up. Here's what you had to say: Jus sanguinis Husband asserted his right to Italian citizenship on the basis of jus sanguinis, or bloodline, unbroken through his mother's family. Took about two weeks after getting a codicil on his birth certificate, as a result of which my daughter has done the same (found herself frozen out of jobs otherwise) and my son should have got around to it, having studied in Italy for six years. I will be applying on the grounds of marriage, only slightly more complicated. All of this became an issue solely because of Brexit, and I'm so annoyed that the doors have been slammed in the faces of Britons who valued EU membership. Wonderful to still have my European citizenship As someone who, years after his hair became grey, became truly interested in his Irish heritage, I can only say it's wonderful to still have my European citizenship. I can see my daughter in Holland as I please – no 90 days nonsense. I can cross any Schengen border as a true European citizen. This, as we go, for example, as a family to the Christmas fair in Oldenburg (Germany). But as we pass Mr Farage and his German-speaking family doing their Christmas shopping in Germany too, it's good to know that more people have found this loophole! Brad It feels good to say I'm Irish I can relate to Tom Harrison. My father told me many years ago that I could claim Irish citizenship because his father was Irish, but I never saw the need. But post-Brexit, I wanted to remain an EU citizen, so I went for it, and it's a much simpler task now with the advent of the internet. Despite visiting family and friends and having many holidays in Ireland over the years, I do feel a bit of a fraud. That said, I am immensely grateful to the Irish government for allowing it. I sometimes feel a little uncomfortable telling people that I'm British, but it feels good to be able to say that I'm Irish. Bionicpants Travel is what the EU is about These people are pro-EU for the right reasons: the freedom to travel, work and live all over Europe. That is what the EU is about, the Ever Closer Union. You may notice, they don't mention the nice side effects, like frictionless trade, no additional roaming, or certain subsidies. They embrace the Euro and the Schengen area. Should the UK want to join, they have to embrace the principles of the Ever Closer Union as well. It helps if you focus on what that means, instead of repeating the economic benefits. As said, those are just nice side effects. Orval Can we please have Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Grealish back? As an Irish person, it's very satisfying to hear these stories of people with Irish heritage benefiting from getting an Irish passport. Can we please have Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Grealish back as a sign of appreciation? All very pleasant chaps too from what I can see. AnonyMousse Fast lane My mother is an immigrant from an EU country, and I got an EU passport about three years ago, as a result. Interestingly, I went to Spain recently, and when spotted with my EU passport getting off a flight from Britain, they ushered me and my friend (with her British passport) through EU passport control. She went via the EU fast lane because she was with me. Prenst Switch nationality mid-flight After having lived in the UK for 18 years, Brexit made it necessary for me to apply for naturalisation as a British citizen. When I now travel to my native Germany, I have to leave the UK on my British passport and arrive in Frankfurt on my German passport. As per German law, I have to use my German ID to enter/leave Germany. I could, of course, enter any other EU country on my British passport, but this would mean queuing and getting an entry stamp and then an exit stamp. When returning to the UK, I then 'switch' nationality again in mid-flight from being a German in the EU to being a Brit in the UK. On one occasion, I flew from Tenerife to London... as a German from Tenerife to Madrid and as Brit from Madrid to London. Baldrick's Plan Legal technicalities My mother is a French citizen, as is all her side of the family, with French government certificates back to the 14th century, but I am refused citizenship (despite also living and paying taxes in France for eight years). Reason: a legal technicality called desuetude. You may want to do some research before handing over a few grand to the lawyers! Frankx33 You can't complain about being considered a foreigner Britain's approach to the EU always was a "what can I get in return" one... called it cakeism. What matters is being in the slow lane, no longer being able to live and work, etc. Britain would have loved to retain all EU perks without committing. You can't complain about being considered as a foreigner while being one and expecting the same rights as EU citizens.... Europeancitizen I don't know what I would have done with just a UK passport Got my precious Irish passport a couple of years ago, thanks to my grandfather, who was born in Ireland. This has allowed me to move from Italy back to France following retirement without any issues. I don't know what I would have done with just a UK passport, as there is no mechanism for UK passport holders to move from one EU place of residence to another. Farage, Johnson, Gove, etc, should be imprisoned for the lies they told. I cannot believe that Farage is still so popular, says a lot for the intelligence of a good percentage of the UK population. Very sad. YaketyYak Keep the family in one piece with my Irish passport My father was born in Ireland in 1916. I was born in England in 1944. He was an RAF pilot. I ended up marrying a German and lived happily in Solingen (which my father's squadron bombed!) until that swine Farage stirred up his sleazy chauvinism. Thanks to my father, I was able to keep the family in one piece with my Irish passport. I am immensely grateful. And to the Germans, too, who have made me very welcome Kenhubert Heartening It is heartening to read the stories of the people who have been able to reclaim the EU citizenship stripped from them by the disgusting and mendacious Brexiteers, who have yet to apologise to the rest of us for stripping us of our rights. Sturluson Not just the young It's not just young people. Us older folk are also going for dual passports after Brexit cut off our travel freedom. My Irish grandfather has now continued to be very useful after his death! JustMeHere Want to share your views? Simply register your details below. Once registered, you can comment on the day's top stories for a chance to be featured. Alternatively, click 'log in' or 'register' in the top right corner to sign in or sign up.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Italy tightens rules for Italian descendants to become citizens
Italy has approved a law that tightens the rules for people with Italian heritage to get anyone with an Italian ancestor who lived after 17 March, 1861 - when the Kingdom of Italy was created - qualified to be a citizen under the 'jus sanguinis', or descendent blood line the amended law, which parliament ratified on Tuesday, applicants for an Italian passport must now have one parent or grandparent who was a citizen by government said it changed the rules to "enhance" the link between Italy and the citizen abroad, avoid 'abuse' and 'commercialisation' of passports, and free up resources to clear backlogged applications. From the end of 2014 to the end of 2024, the number of citizens residing abroad increased by 40%, from around 4.6 million to 6.4 million, the government said. As of the end of March, when Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government introduced the law, there were more than 60,000 pending legal proceedings for citizenship foreign ministry said in a statement then that the change "will free up resources to make consular services more efficient, to the extent that they can be dedicated exclusively to those who have a real need, by virtue of their concrete connection with Italy".Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the principle "will not be lost" and descendants of Italians will still be able to become citizens, but "precise limits will be set, especially to avoid abuse or phenomena of 'commercialization' of Italian passports"."Citizenship must be a serious thing," he said.
CNN
21-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Italy changes law on right to claim citizenship through great-grandparents
The Italian government has this week enacted a law that makes it impossible for anyone to get Italian citizenship through their great-grandparents, dashing the hopes of those who have already paid money to start the process. The law, which was introduced in March by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government and came into force on Tuesday, now restricts the right to citizenship under jus sanguinis, or descendent bloodline, to people whose parents or grandparents were Italian. According to the country's Interior Ministry, 80 million people worldwide are of Italian descent. And for those whose great-grandparents were Italian and who have spent time and money collecting documents and getting them translated and notarized in order to claim citizenship, the change is bad news. They will now only be able to become Italian by moving to Italy and applying based on residency — which has already become more difficult under Meloni's government due to tighter visa rules for non-European Union citizens. To complicate matters further, on June 8 and 9, Italians will vote in a referendum on a proposal to change Italy's rules on citizenship by residency. At present, non-EU citizens can apply for citizenship after 10 years of legal residency. The referendum, which is predicted to fail and which the government does not support, would halve that requirement to five years. But if it does not pass, it could be followed by another referendum, which, if passed, would increase the requirement to 12 years of legal residency. As it stands, those applying for Italian citizenship by residency need to provide proof of taxable income for all years of residency, and must have a minimum annual income of 8,263.31 euros (around $9,360) for those without children and 11,362.05 euros ($12,870) plus an additional 516 euros ($585) per child for those with children. Applicants must also pass an Italian language exam and prove they have no criminal convictions in every country they've lived in. People applying for citizenship through ancestry, on the other hand, currently do not need to pass a language exam or prove income. For many of those who had hoped to gain citizenship through their great-grandparents, moving to Italy for 10 years (or five if the referendum passes) is not an option. Gina Pace Trucil, an American who has been working on getting citizenship, expressed her frustration on a Facebook group for people with Italian ancestors working through the new laws. 'I submitted all my documents based on my great-grandfather,' she wrote. 'I wait the 3 years for my appointment, spent thousands of dollars and now they tell me I am not eligible.' Samantha Wilson, who runs Smart Move Italy, a firm that helps people through the immigration process, called the law change terrible news. 'It is actually worse than we expected,' she told CNN. 'For many of our clients, this change has shattered their immediate plans of moving to Italy, as well as their long-term aspirations. 'It's also concerning for Italy itself, as the country is already facing a decreasing population. Many of these applicants were not only looking to connect with their heritage but were also planning to invest in property, start businesses, and contribute to the Italian economy. Now, that's no longer possible without a visa.' Wilson recommends that people who want to make the move explore Italy's Digital Nomad Visa program or other visa options, according to their individual circumstances. Certain visas also mean the legal residency requirement is reduced. For those who were in the process of applying based on their great-grandparent but are now disqualified, she suggests they challenge the law in Italy's constitutional court. 'Of course, only a judge can file a case to the constitutional court, but we need enough cases to be brought forward for a potential ruling,' Wilson added. 'This process will likely take over a year and comes with significant legal costs. If clients have already paid for the citizenship process, we suggest they continue moving forward and defend their rights. 'Overall, it's a very sad situation for many, and while we hope that the constitutional court will eventually rule on the matter, it's going to take time.'
CNN
21-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Italy changes law on right to claim citizenship through great-grandparents
The Italian government has this week enacted a law that makes it impossible for anyone to get Italian citizenship through their great-grandparents, dashing the hopes of those who have already paid money to start the process. The law, which was introduced in March by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government and came into force on Tuesday, now restricts the right to citizenship under jus sanguinis, or descendent bloodline, to people whose parents or grandparents were Italian. According to the country's Interior Ministry, 80 million people worldwide are of Italian descent. And for those whose great-grandparents were Italian and who have spent time and money collecting documents and getting them translated and notarized in order to claim citizenship, the change is bad news. They will now only be able to become Italian by moving to Italy and applying based on residency — which has already become more difficult under Meloni's government due to tighter visa rules for non-European Union citizens. To complicate matters further, on June 8 and 9, Italians will vote in a referendum on a proposal to change Italy's rules on citizenship by residency. At present, non-EU citizens can apply for citizenship after 10 years of legal residency. The referendum, which is predicted to fail and which the government does not support, would halve that requirement to five years. But if it does not pass, it could be followed by another referendum, which, if passed, would increase the requirement to 12 years of legal residency. As it stands, those applying for Italian citizenship by residency need to provide proof of taxable income for all years of residency, and must have a minimum annual income of 8,263.31 euros (around $9,360) for those without children and 11,362.05 euros ($12,870) plus an additional 516 euros ($585) per child for those with children. Applicants must also pass an Italian language exam and prove they have no criminal convictions in every country they've lived in. People applying for citizenship through ancestry, on the other hand, currently do not need to pass a language exam or prove income. For many of those who had hoped to gain citizenship through their great-grandparents, moving to Italy for 10 years (or five if the referendum passes) is not an option. Gina Pace Trucil, an American who has been working on getting citizenship, expressed her frustration on a Facebook group for people with Italian ancestors working through the new laws. 'I submitted all my documents based on my great-grandfather,' she wrote. 'I wait the 3 years for my appointment, spent thousands of dollars and now they tell me I am not eligible.' Samantha Wilson, who runs Smart Move Italy, a firm that helps people through the immigration process, called the law change terrible news. 'It is actually worse than we expected,' she told CNN. 'For many of our clients, this change has shattered their immediate plans of moving to Italy, as well as their long-term aspirations. 'It's also concerning for Italy itself, as the country is already facing a decreasing population. Many of these applicants were not only looking to connect with their heritage but were also planning to invest in property, start businesses, and contribute to the Italian economy. Now, that's no longer possible without a visa.' Wilson recommends that people who want to make the move explore Italy's Digital Nomad Visa program or other visa options, according to their individual circumstances. Certain visas also mean the legal residency requirement is reduced. For those who were in the process of applying based on their great-grandparent but are now disqualified, she suggests they challenge the law in Italy's constitutional court. 'Of course, only a judge can file a case to the constitutional court, but we need enough cases to be brought forward for a potential ruling,' Wilson added. 'This process will likely take over a year and comes with significant legal costs. If clients have already paid for the citizenship process, we suggest they continue moving forward and defend their rights. 'Overall, it's a very sad situation for many, and while we hope that the constitutional court will eventually rule on the matter, it's going to take time.'
