Dual Citizen Decisions

[Joe (SoCal)]

So Renee’s mother was born in 1939 in Berlin Germany ( she actually saw Hitler eeek ) So we just got a notarized copy of her German birth certificate. The idea is Renee can apply for dual citizenship in Germany and me being married to her can also get dual citizenship. The goal is to retire as expats in Europe, particularly in Italy and travel throughout the EU. This would allow us to purchase property in the EU at a traditional and not the 80% down that is required for non EU


So has anyone done this ?
What are the advantages ?
What are the pitfalls ?

Also what is fully required to accomplish this.

Thank you in advance for your input.

[George Jung]

Re: Dual Citizen Decisions

I'd like to know how you got a motorized birth certificate.

Pushrods?

[Ted Hoppe]

Re: Dual Citizen Decisions

-\go\for\it.

The other option or back up is to buy an apartment in Malta for 150,00 and get EU citizenship like that. Sell it as soon as you get the passport.

[George Jung]

Re: Dual Citizen Decisions

yes. Definitely.

[john welsford]

Re: Dual Citizen Decisions

I'd like to know how you got a motorized birth certificate.

Pushrods?

He bought a Vespa!

John Welsford

[Hugh MacD]

Re: Dual Citizen Decisions

Check with your tax person. Our daughter has dual citizenship in Australia and is finding the she theoretically still has to file for US income tax, even though she's not bringing any of her income into the US. I don't think she has to pay on anything but she does still have to file.

[Canoeyawl]

Re: Dual Citizen Decisions

I would do it in a heartbeat!

But stories from my accountant indicate the tax implications could be interesting
(these stories also involved millions of dollars)

[David G]

Re: Dual Citizen Decisions

We've considered it a bit. My wife's dad barely got out of Nazi Germany, and she qualifies thru him. As her husband, I'd qualify... as would our two boys. We decided not to pursue it, simply because we are too involved with friends/family here... and in too many groups/organizations, etc.

[Canoez]

Re: Dual Citizen Decisions

Biggest advantage? You get to live and work in the EU without issue.
Disadvantages? Taxes.

Good move? Overall, yeah.

SWMBO is a dual with UK/US citizenship. The kids are entitled to a consular birth certificate and a UK passport as well as their US one. For us, if heading to the UK, there would be some financial hurdles as SWMBO would have to have the income to support me at a level that the UK government finds appropriate and I would have to apply for residency separately even though we are married (and were married in the UK...) Even for the kids, it would be a challenge as they'd have to reside and work in the UK for a period of time before becoming eligible for things like the National Health, etc. BREXIT was really a gut punch because it denied them the opportunities that would have presented with respect to the EU.

[Canoeyawl]

Re: Dual Citizen Decisions

It would give you a plan B if tfg gets elected (again)

[Spin_Drift]

Re: Dual Citizen Decisions

I have dual citizenship and passport from both countries. It’s a real advantage when traveling in EU.

[lupussonic]

Re: Dual Citizen Decisions

Why do you want to live in Europe Joe?

[Jim Bow]

Re: Dual Citizen Decisions

Why do you want to live in Europe Joe?

Because it’s not here.

[neoconocephalus]

Re: Dual Citizen Decisions

I am a German citizen and permanent resident of the US since 25 years. My wife is US-American. Our kids are dual citizens - because of their parents' passports.
Renee does not have to apply for German citizenship - she has it already. She will have to prove this to the German Consulate. Because she has both US and German citizenship by birth, she can be a double citizen.

Germany does not allow double citizenship unless inherited from parents. If I were to apply for US citizenship, I would lose the German one, unless I applied for an exception beforehand (Beibehaltungserlaubnis - ah, I love German nouns!). I am not quite sure, but as I understand it, the US does not allow you to accept a 2nd citizenship - you would lose your US citizenship if you apply for the German passport.

However, it is extremely easy for US citizens married to a German citizens to get permanent residency in Germany/the EU: you enter with a tourist visa, then take your marriage certificate and the German's passport to your local authorities and they stamp it into your US passport. You then have to go to another place where they certify your work permit. 10 years ago, this was all free. There is really very little to gain from getting German citizenship as long as you plan to stay married

In our current situation, we can move freely between the US and the EU as long as I maintain my green card.

If you seriously consider applying for a second citizenship, get a good immigration lawyer before you do anything. This is too important of an issue to do anything based on internet advice.

[gypsie]

Re: Dual Citizen Decisions

I have dual Irish/Aussie, as do my boys. My partner doesn't she has dual UK/Aus citizenship which was fine while she was living in Ireland when we met. Why get Irish citizenship...? Now it's worth nothing. Doh! She can't get Irish citizenship through me, but she can get a residency visa and apply for citizenship if she is living in Ireland.
I'm stoked my kids have dual, they can travel and work, study, get free healthcare, anywhere in Europe. What a great thing to have!

I wonder what the possibilities for healthcare are for you both when you have passports? Live in the US, go to the doctor in Germany. You could be looking at some serious savings as years advance and healthcare needs rise.