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Comment by Finbarr | Hacker News Reader

As a Scot living in the US, I'm curious to know what's going to happen the other way around.

I'm concerned about what will happen to my British citizenship in the event of independence. It seems like Scotland would introduce its own citizenship and passport with independence, but it is unclear what would happen to existing British passport holders of Scottish descent.

If the answer is dual citizenship, I wonder how this will affect the availability of public services over time. For example, as a holder of both passports, would I be free to pick and choose which country I draw a pension from, get healthcare from, and pay tax to?

For me, there are too many unanswered questions. Currency is the tip of the iceberg.

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You'll be happy to know that all European Union passports grant you access to the embassies and consulates of all other European Union countries. So if you're abroad and want access to UK embassies in the event of an independent Scotland, then that would not be a problem. Check the back page of your passport for the full terms.

You are not the only one with this concern. Despite being out of the country for a long time I would prefer to keep my British passport. I'm also annoyed that I don't get a vote on whether my nationality will change.

Why would your nationality change? You would simply gain an option on another nationality.

I am British and have a British passport. If there is a Yes votes I will have to change to a Scottish passport, which I believe will have less value, or an English passport, which is not my identity. Neither of those is a good choice.

Ex-pat Scots, whose nationality will be affected by the result, were specifically denied the vote, while English people and other nationalities, including Germans and other Europeans living in Scotland, have been allowed to vote. Complete insanity.

> I am British and have a British passport. If there is a Yes votes I will have to change to a Scottish passport, which I believe will have less value, or an English passport, which is not my identity.

Er, no one has proposed that England become independent of the UK -- if Scotland leaves, you could have a Scottish passport or end up with a British passport. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland -- comprised of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland -- without Scotland will still be the United Kingdom of (most of) Great Britain and Northern Ireland -- comprised of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

I don't think you get my point.

Likely worst case scenario is the UK coffers get fat on Scottish registrations. Unless you opt to become a republic, you'll still be a British subject regardless.

https://www.gov.uk/register-british-citizen

Surprisingly (to me), most citizens of Britain are not technically "British subjects."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_subject

Let's be realistic here. I'm in the same boat, I'm Scottish and British (identity) and have a British passport (citizenship), and live in London. It's very unlikely to be an either or, and I believe the contingency right now is that in worst case, British passports will be honoured till expiry. But likeliest is dual passports. And what of my son, though, while we're on this? He's English, born here to a Scottish dad and English mum. Will he get a choice (or us on his behalf)? That exercises me more than my own passport.

On your initial question, it'll just be a straight up question of what's more important - a passport that reflects your heritage but that might have more visa requirements for a few years, or retain your existing one. If it came to it, I'd take the rUK one for now, it's not a big issue - it's like all the people I know who're from other countries and also have a UK passport.

Surely the choice will be between a Scottish passport and a British passport, not and English one.

    > I'm concerned about what will happen to my British
    > citizenship in the event of independence. It seems like
    > Scotland would introduce its own citizenship and
    > passport with independence, but it is unclear what would
    > happen to existing British passport holders of Scottish
    > descent.

I don't think British law acknowledges the concept of "Scottish descent". You're a British citizen, and the nationality of your parents or place of birth don't factor in to it. If you choose to surrender your British citizenship to be a member of The Social Republic of Salmond, there may be difficulties, but otherwise countries are simply not allowed to turf out their own citizens! So relax :-)

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