Q. My husband and I (both Australian passport holders) have had a baby while we’ve been living in the UK. We are both here on ancestry visas, based on my grandmother being born in Northern Ireland. Is our child eligible for a UK passport? If not, what do we have to do to get our baby a British passport?
Also, I am apparently eligible for an Irish passport, but have not obtained one.
A. Unfortunately your child is not eligible to register as a British citizen yet, as you are both still in the UK under temporary visas (ancestry). Once you have applied for, and successfully obtained permanent residency (Indefinite Leave to Remain) in the UK, you may then register your child as a British citizen, thus entitling the child to a UK passport.
At present your child is only eligible for an Australian passport, however, it may be in your interest to speak to the Irish authorities to ascertain what rights your child would have should you decide to obtain a passport from the Republic of Ireland.
For more, see 1stcontact.com
