Comment by lkramer | Hacker News Reader

Comment by lkramer | Hacker News Reader

I'm a little bit in the opposite camp. I live in the UK and have lived here for a total of more than 10 years in the last 20, but I have a EU passport. I would not say that I feel that I'm British, but I have strong ties with the country and plan to keep it my home for a good chunk of my future (though not my whole future necessarily). I believe I qualify for British Citizenship, and I'm currently debating with myself whether to apply. It's kinda a no-brainer from a practical point of view - it will allow me to come and go as I please, but even though I would not lose my EU citizenship in the process, it has prompted some feelings in my where I have come to consider where I belong and what exactly I feel.

I think Citizenship is, whether you like it or not, one of those things that are really important for one's self understanding. Like the author, I feel European first and foremost I think, and Brexit and the way it was carried was cataclysmic for that identity if you live in that country.

As somebody who's been through a similar-but-different dual citizenship thing: it's just a bit of paper. You're still you, in all your wonderful complexity, and you can feel like any nationality or combination of nationalities you like. That will probably continue developing over time, too. You'll lose nothing by getting a second passport, and by the sounds of things you'll gain plenty.

Everybody should take every opportunity available to them when it comes to this stuff. Don't let others decide for you where you're allowed to make a life for yourself if you can possibly help it.

That only works for people with they right passport in the first place. Because if you have the wrong passport, you might not be able to get a visa for the country you want to go to or your stay in this country is very time-limited.

In case you don't loose your EU citizenship, I think it is really a no-brainer to have both. It's different for, e.g. a Spanish and a French passport as the benefits might marginal. In case of the UK and Brexit, the benefits are really tengible.

Absolutely, and I think that's what I'll end up doing.

Problem is: if your first passport is German, you are at high risk of losing it and you have to essentially decide which way to go. Germany only allows dual citizenship with EU countries (at time of application).

yeah, I'm lucky. My passport is Danish and Denmark have allowed full dual citizenship since 2015.

This is planned to be changed by the current ruling coalition.

https://www.thelocal.de/20230110/i-hope-it-happens-soon-how-...

There was a huge wave of UK residents taking Irish passports under that country's generous ""right of return"" equivalent, too.

Anyone born, or with a grandparent or parent born on the island (meaning Northern Ireland too) has a right to Irish citizenship. So a lot of UK citizens qualify. It normally takes about 6 months to process, but due to demand after Brexit and closing of the relevant office, it was taking about 2.5 years. Only in the last few months does it seem to be back down to about 1 year.

Before Brexit I felt British.

After Brexit I felt European and my British passport now feels almost alien to me.

"After Brexit I felt European"

I think a lot of people feel that way going by the number of EU flags I see flying here in Scotland.

When friends ask me about Scotland and Brexit I tell them within our lifetime the Scots will split off a rejoin the EU. There is already a difference in terms of laws, currency and education. Every time Westminster shuts down another attempt the support will grow and this might take decades.

They've probably already put the contract for Hadrian's Wall out for tender :)

> but as to the rest of the country: it suddenly felt like a foreign land that I didn’t understand and in which I was not welcome.

That struck me as an odd remark. This sudden change wasn't provoked by a visit to (say) Leeds, where people made her feel unwelcome; it was provoked by a plebiscite whose outcome she disagreed with.

I voted Brexit, knowing that there would be economic costs that would last at least ten years. I also knew that european governments would be angry and hostile; and that the Tories would make a dog's dinner of it. But I still voted Brexit, because for various reasons I think the EU is deeply corrupt.

But I still feel like a european, because I am a european. I feel fellowship with other europeans - provided they also feel like europeans.

The ability to so easily pick up and carry multiple citizenships is something that I do not foresee lasting for long, take advantage of it while it lasts. A passport/citizenship (for most countries) is a free option, it grants a lot of privileges for you and your family and comes at practically zero cost.

> A passport/citizenship (for most countries) is a free option, ... and comes at practically zero cost

Why do you say that? Most countries (unless you can claim some descent from native citizens) require you to have a link with the country, to have spent several years there, to speak the language well, and to be financially secure.

Most countries rules select the people that are eligible for passports/citizenship to those that will benefit the nation.

As in if you are eligible to take citizenship in most cases there is no downside - yes some countries restrict you to having one citizenship or charge global tax on citizens but they are minorities out there.

In most cases there are no obligations from the perspective of the citizen, and in return the benefits are many.

For some countries (like Germany), it's "zero cost" after you've been a resident for N years in said country.

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