Advantage of an EU passport?

[kostek]

My wife's father was a British citizen when she was born, but I have been told that she can apply for an EU passport. Thinking that we may want to spend an extended period of time in either France or Italy in the near future, would her having one be advantageous?Would it have an effect on what I could do?

[Hairball]

It lets her move to any EU country pretty much.

However you need to apply for some sort of status to live there, but most likely it should be easy if your wife is an EU citizen. It's not automatic just because you and your wife are married.

[nalababe]

Typically you have to apply before a certain age for the passport; otherwise, it is not as simple a process.

The advantage is that technically you are a citizen of that country. That means that travel throughout Europe is much easier, you can get a job in those countries without issue.

Now, these do not apply to you as non-citizen.

We have that scenario as my wife was born in England. Keeps here English passport. We had our kids get a British Passport...it just gives them more options later in life.

[Seahawk]

My wife's father was a British citizen when she was born, but I have been told that she can apply for an EU passport.

Was your wife's father married to her mother? I am a British Citizen with illigitimate daughters. I was going to get my children passports but was told I only had till their 18th birthdays to apply. Their was a hefty fee involved around $1000 each so i didn't bother.

They have different rules for British mothers they can pass on their citizenship even if they aren't married.

[slowpoke]

kostek - If I were you, I'd be pushing your wife to get moving on it. It's a very valuable thing to have. In the meantime, have your father-in-law search for any kind of official documents such as birth certificate etc.

[bilibulu]

Get it!

I have my Portuguese passport. I pull it out every time I go to Europe. It's time-saving at the immigration!

[Ebola]

Yay!

Citizenship of convenience!

[Tijuana]

You can work there also

[Pavel]

Have a look here on the myths of of a EU passport:

http://www.euimmigration.org/eu_passport.html

Myth I: It is a common misperception to believe that there is an "EU Passport" which cover all EU member countries. An "EU Passport" is only a term used to describe a passport from any EU country and does not exists in reality. Any citizen from any EU member country have same rights to travel visa free within EU / Schengen and to work in any EU country of their choice.

Myth II: Being and "EU citizen" and "EU resident" is the same. This is not the case. An EU citizen is an individual who has a passport from one of the EU countries. An EU resident can be an individual who has obtained the right to work and live in one of the EU countries, but who still holds the citizenship of his or her home country.

In order for an individual to take advantage of all the benefits of EU, he or she would want to become a citizen of any EU country by obtaining a second passport. The process of obtaining citizenship with an EU country is a formal process. Individuals most frequently obtain a second citizenship, also called "Dual Nationality", based upon family relationships, marriage, or investment. However, obtaining legal residency through work or studying can also make the citizenship process easier at a later stage. The advantage is that you are residing in the country you want to live in.

In summary. There is no EU passport. Each country within the EU issues its own passports to its own citizens, it is just that they are all the same colour and allow movement within the EU.

[Pete_Coach]

Yay!

Citizenship of convenience!

Exactly

Have a look here on the myths of of a EU passport:

http://www.euimmigration.org/eu_passport.html

In summary. There is no EU passport. Each country within the EU issues its own passports to its own citizens, it is just that they are all the same colour and allow movement within the EU.

I have been traveling to EU Countries for work (and pleasure) regularily for the past 15 years. I see no benefit to having a passport from a EU Country other than when first entering the EU. After that, I pass through airports and Countries like everyone else.
Yes, if you want to work there or stay longer you do not need a visa but, will you really be doing that? Even if the Wife gets a passport from her native Country, you don't have one so, what's the advantage? She can stay and you can't?
As for getting through immigration quicker, I find getting through immigration in EU Countries quite fast. Nothing like Toronto

[bilibulu]

Yay!

Citizenship of convenience!

There is more to it than simply citizenship of convenience.

A lot of the usefulness of a second or third or, in my case, fourth passport lies in the fact that the user can be relatively free from the grip from the Big Brothers. I am not going to elaborate too much in a public internet forum because a lot of the usefulness of multiple citizenship are viewed as illegal by some authorities. But getting another citizenship opens the door to the possibilities of reaping some of these benefits, financially or not.

[Ebola]

There is more to it than simply citizenship of convenience.

A lot of the usefulness of a second or third or, in my case, fourth passport lies in the fact that the user can be relatively free from the grip from the Big Brothers. I am not going to elaborate too much in a public internet forum because a lot of the usefulness of multiple citizenship are viewed as illegal by some authorities. But getting another citizenship opens the door to the possibilities of reaping some of these benefits, financially or not.

And how is that not using the citizenship that most advantages you to your convenience?

I see it all the time, someone states the live abroad, and presents a Canadian passport so that they enter by right and avoid immigration questions, but their passport has no travel history in it whatsoever. Suspicion raised. Upon further questioning another passport (or two or three) are produced , not only heightening suspicions, but showing that they never use their Canadian passport except to enter Canada.

It's just as you said, a use of any given citizenship to enable minimal scrutiny by authorities. Which means in effect you are a citizen of whatever country you are legally able to feel like , whenever it suits you best.

It's garbage.

[bilibulu]

And how is that not using the citizenship that most advantages you to your convenience?

It is very true that I'm using the citizenship to my convenience. But I said there is MORE to it, didn't I.

I see it all the time, someone states the live abroad, and presents a Canadian passport so that they enter by right and avoid immigration questions, but their passport has no travel history in it whatsoever. Suspicion raised. Upon further questioning another passport (or two or three) are produced , not only heightening suspicions, but showing that they never use their Canadian passport except to enter Canada.

Why is suspicion raised? If the person rarely travels, the passport would have no stamps in it. Why would holding 3 passports raise suspicion? There are a lot of immigrants in Canada and they mostly hold more than just the Canadian passport. And Canada allows this. And what's wrong with only using the Canadian passport to enter Canada? I'm not very proud of being a Canadian and I don't always use my Canadian passport when I travel.

It's garbage.

Yes, this border crossing thing is garbage. Just another excuse for the Big Brothers and customs trolls to invade the privacy of innocent civilians in the name of protecting the country.

[petaling108]

You can work there also

Your children can study in universities there for almost free or few euros per year.
Canadian pays 25000$ per yr for UK university education.
I know a former Kosovo refugee naturalised in Sweden studying for free and given grant by the swedish govt to study in the UK.
The same Kosovo refugee in Canada even though naturalised would not fare as well.

[heymikey]

I know a former Kosovo refugee naturalised in Sweden studying for free and given grant by the swedish govt to study in the UK.
The same Kosovo refugee in Canada even though naturalised would not fare as well.

But compared to the US, paying $2000 per semester is better than nothing. Europe just happens to be more socialist than we are. Maybe we need to fully socialize higher education as well.