Dual Citizenship / Nationality (U.S.A. & Austria) for New Baby

[Clint & Ola 0]

We've been quiet on the VisaJourney site for a while now, but my wife and I have been doing very well - in fact we had our first child almost a year ago (born in the U.S.). I am a U.S. citizen; she is still an Austrian citizen (but U.S. permanent resident). After much research, it appears our child can have citizenship of both the U.S. and Austria. (It sounds like the term "dual citizenship" may be incorrect, maybe "dual nationality" is better.) My wife and I are going to go to the Austrian embassy soon to get proof of Austrian citizenship for our son.

Snippet from the Austrian embassy's website:

www.austria.org/citizenship

In general, the Austrian Nationality Act does not allow dual citizenship except for persons who obtain two citizenships at the time they were born (e.g. a person born to Austrians living in the US acquires both Austrian and US citizenships at the time of birth).

Snippet from the U.S. State Dept's website:

http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/english/legal-considerations/us-citizenship-laws-policies/citizenship-and-dual-nationality/dual-nationality.html

A U.S. national may acquire foreign nationality by marriage, or a person naturalized as a U.S. national may not lose the nationality of the country of birth. U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one nationality or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another nationality does not risk losing U.S. nationality.

My questions:

1. My biggest concern was jeopardizing my son's U.S. citizenship by taking these steps for Austria, but from reviewing both the Austrian's and U.S.'s websites, it looks like we're good there? Unless he specifically renounces his U.S. citizenship or takes other deliberate steps, he can maintain his dual status? Anyone have experience with or against that understanding?

2. Also from reviewing travel websites:

Whenever he enters or leaves the U.S., show his U.S. passport (and while in the U.S., state he is a U.S. citizen).

Whenever he enters or leaves Austria, show his Austrian passport (and while in Austria, state he is an Austrian citizen living in the U.S.).

My wife's family is living in Germany, so we're more likely to visit Germany than Austria. Even though it is the European Union, I assume it is better to represent my son as a U.S. citizen when entering/leaving there?

3. Any other tips / advice for people having "dual nationality" children?

Thank you!

[Alaska2012 462]

My kids all have dual citizenship American /Swedish. You don't have to worry about the baby losing the us citizenship. The US don't care!

When we travel to Europe I always bring both passports for the kids and whenever we get to customs we pick the line that's shortest. EU or non EU resident and then I usually hand over both passports. The kids love getting the stamps lol and if we enter countries in the European Union on our swedish passports they don't get any stamps...

[*Forever*Always* 9]

How do I obtain my Daughter German Passport? She was born in the U.S. But I am a German citizen.... Her Father is U.S citizen...... How do I get a birth certificate from Germany for her?

[Alaska2012 462]

You contact your embassy and see what they say. I got my kids citizenship through the consulate but had to deal with the embassy for the passports. It's all from country to country

[newacct 688]

We've been quiet on the VisaJourney site for a while now, but my wife and I have been doing very well - in fact we had our first child almost a year ago (born in the U.S.). I am a U.S. citizen; she is still an Austrian citizen (but U.S. permanent resident). After much research, it appears our child can have citizenship of both the U.S. and Austria. (It sounds like the term "dual citizenship" may be incorrect, maybe "dual nationality" is better.) My wife and I are going to go to the Austrian embassy soon to get proof of Austrian citizenship for our son.

Snippet from the Austrian embassy's website:

www.austria.org/citizenship

In general, the Austrian Nationality Act does not allow dual citizenship except for persons who obtain two citizenships at the time they were born (e.g. a person born to Austrians living in the US acquires both Austrian and US citizenships at the time of birth).

Snippet from the U.S. State Dept's website:

http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/english/legal-considerations/us-citizenship-laws-policies/citizenship-and-dual-nationality/dual-nationality.html

A U.S. national may acquire foreign nationality by marriage, or a person naturalized as a U.S. national may not lose the nationality of the country of birth. U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one nationality or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another nationality does not risk losing U.S. nationality.

My questions:

1. My biggest concern was jeopardizing my son's U.S. citizenship by taking these steps for Austria, but from reviewing both the Austrian's and U.S.'s websites, it looks like we're good there? Unless he specifically renounces his U.S. citizenship or takes other deliberate steps, he can maintain his dual status? Anyone have experience with or against that understanding?

2. Also from reviewing travel websites:

Whenever he enters or leaves the U.S., show his U.S. passport (and while in the U.S., state he is a U.S. citizen).

Whenever he enters or leaves Austria, show his Austrian passport (and while in Austria, state he is an Austrian citizen living in the U.S.).

My wife's family is living in Germany, so we're more likely to visit Germany than Austria. Even though it is the European Union, I assume it is better to represent my son as a U.S. citizen when entering/leaving there?

3. Any other tips / advice for people having "dual nationality" children?

Thank you!

Your child already has dual nationality automatically at birth, no matter what "steps" you take. Getting proof of citizenship or not does not change the nationalities the child has.

1. The US constitution protects anyone born or naturalized in the US from involuntarily losing US citizenship. And your son cannot renounce his US citizenship as a young child even if he wanted to.

2. Yes. As for Germany, I am not sure which passport is better, but whichever one you choose, he should use the same passport to enter and exit a particular country during the same trip.

[cappucino boy 29]

We've been quiet on the VisaJourney site for a while now, but my wife and I have been doing very well - in fact we had our first child almost a year ago (born in the U.S.). I am a U.S. citizen; she is still an Austrian citizen (but U.S. permanent resident). After much research, it appears our child can have citizenship of both the U.S. and Austria. (It sounds like the term "dual citizenship" may be incorrect, maybe "dual nationality" is better.) My wife and I are going to go to the Austrian embassy soon to get proof of Austrian citizenship for our son.

Snippet from the Austrian embassy's website:

www.austria.org/citizenship

In general, the Austrian Nationality Act does not allow dual citizenship except for persons who obtain two citizenships at the time they were born (e.g. a person born to Austrians living in the US acquires both Austrian and US citizenships at the time of birth).

Snippet from the U.S. State Dept's website:

http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/english/legal-considerations/us-citizenship-laws-policies/citizenship-and-dual-nationality/dual-nationality.html

A U.S. national may acquire foreign nationality by marriage, or a person naturalized as a U.S. national may not lose the nationality of the country of birth. U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one nationality or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another nationality does not risk losing U.S. nationality.

My questions:

1. My biggest concern was jeopardizing my son's U.S. citizenship by taking these steps for Austria, but from reviewing both the Austrian's and U.S.'s websites, it looks like we're good there? Unless he specifically renounces his U.S. citizenship or takes other deliberate steps, he can maintain his dual status? Anyone have experience with or against that understanding?

2. Also from reviewing travel websites:

Whenever he enters or leaves the U.S., show his U.S. passport (and while in the U.S., state he is a U.S. citizen).

Whenever he enters or leaves Austria, show his Austrian passport (and while in Austria, state he is an Austrian citizen living in the U.S.).

My wife's family is living in Germany, so we're more likely to visit Germany than Austria. Even though it is the European Union, I assume it is better to represent my son as a U.S. citizen when entering/leaving there?

3. Any other tips / advice for people having "dual nationality" children?

Thank you!

You'd be better off showing his EU Austrian Passport when entering Europe especially if (he) you will be there longer than 90 days. My wife, who's from Poland, with dual nationalities with two passports. When entering Europe she only brought only her US passport and got into trouble leaving after being there longer than 90 days. I believe it's the same for all of the Schengen area which includes Germany and Austria.

[BigDaddy28 228]

We've been quiet on the VisaJourney site for a while now, but my wife and I have been doing very well - in fact we had our first child almost a year ago (born in the U.S.). I am a U.S. citizen; she is still an Austrian citizen (but U.S. permanent resident). After much research, it appears our child can have citizenship of both the U.S. and Austria. (It sounds like the term "dual citizenship" may be incorrect, maybe "dual nationality" is better.) My wife and I are going to go to the Austrian embassy soon to get proof of Austrian citizenship for our son.

Snippet from the Austrian embassy's website:

www.austria.org/citizenship

In general, the Austrian Nationality Act does not allow dual citizenship except for persons who obtain two citizenships at the time they were born (e.g. a person born to Austrians living in the US acquires both Austrian and US citizenships at the time of birth).

Snippet from the U.S. State Dept's website:

http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/english/legal-considerations/us-citizenship-laws-policies/citizenship-and-dual-nationality/dual-nationality.html

A U.S. national may acquire foreign nationality by marriage, or a person naturalized as a U.S. national may not lose the nationality of the country of birth. U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one nationality or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another nationality does not risk losing U.S. nationality.

My questions:

1. My biggest concern was jeopardizing my son's U.S. citizenship by taking these steps for Austria, but from reviewing both the Austrian's and U.S.'s websites, it looks like we're good there? Unless he specifically renounces his U.S. citizenship or takes other deliberate steps, he can maintain his dual status? Anyone have experience with or against that understanding?

2. Also from reviewing travel websites:

Whenever he enters or leaves the U.S., show his U.S. passport (and while in the U.S., state he is a U.S. citizen).

Whenever he enters or leaves Austria, show his Austrian passport (and while in Austria, state he is an Austrian citizen living in the U.S.).

My wife's family is living in Germany, so we're more likely to visit Germany than Austria. Even though it is the European Union, I assume it is better to represent my son as a U.S. citizen when entering/leaving there?

3. Any other tips / advice for people having "dual nationality" children?

Thank you!

Per that website your child has dual nationalities/ citizenship. However when he/she turns 18 he will have to choose which one he wants to keep. As far as the US goes, they can't take that citizenship away at all unless the citizen requests renunciation in front of a US embassy overseas of course proving he has another citizenship. But basically its pretty hard to get rid of US citizenship.

2)To explain it clearly I'm gonna use me as an example which is the same for your child:

I'm a dual citizen of Tunisia and USA.

- Getting In or OUT of the USA I have to present USA passport

- Getting in or out of Tunisia I have to present my Tunisian passport.

- For your child (since he is an EU citizen as well) Whenever he travels to any EU country he can present his EU/ Austrian passport

- Any other country, whatever passport is more convenient.

Whenever I am in USA, my Tunisian citizenship is meaningless unless I'm applying something with the Tunisian embassy. Whenever I'm in Tunisia, my USA citizenship is meaningless unless I'm applying for something with the US embassy. What I am trying to say when you are in a country where you are citizen no other citizenship matter or is considered there.

3) My only advice is to keep your kids passports up to date just in case of emergency traveling. I see some countries saying dual citizenship might be inconvenient, until now I couldn't find a good example.

I hope I helped.

[newacct 688]

However when he/she turns 18 he will have to choose which one he wants to keep.

Nope.

[BigDaddy28 228]

Nope.

Look at the link he provided, thats what I based my answer on. And yup they will have to choose according to Austria not the US.

[newacct 688]

Look at the link he provided, thats what I based my answer on. And yup they will have to choose according to Austria not the US.

The link they provided does not say that.

[Clint & Ola 0]

Thank you all for the help!

My wife has researched the Austrian citizenship side quite a bit; whereas Austria doesn't normally allow dual nationality, because our son falls into the special case of "born in U.S. but Austrian parent" he - shouldn't - have to give it up at 18.

[BigDaddy28 228]

Thank you all for the help!

My wife has researched the Austrian citizenship side quite a bit; whereas Austria doesn't normally allow dual nationality, because our son falls into the special case of "born in U.S. but Austrian parent" he - shouldn't - have to give it up at 18.

Oh my bad, I didnt mean to give you wrong info.

[Clint & Ola 0]

Oh my bad, I didnt mean to give you wrong info.

No worries! That's why I said shouldn't; can never be 100% certain! My wife did mention she was given an option to have German citizenship when she turned 16 (or maybe 18) - she was living in Germany at the time. And there may be situations as you described for other countries.

[zyzzx 2]

I'm a US / UK dual citizen by birth (born in the US, one parent UK citizen with US permanent residency) I have zero issues with holding dual citizenship. I travel a lot for work, and the only thing that really matters is you must use your US passport to exit & enter the US. I mostly travel to Europe for work, so I mainly use my UK passport outside of the US. The only times I've ever had to show both my passports at once are the couple of times I purchased a one-way ticket from the UK to the US (and vice-versa) The airline check-in desk asked to see both passports to prove I was legally able to enter each country without a return. That was it - they looked at the passports and on I went.

It really is a great thing to have EU citizenship as well as US citizenship. It opens so many doors for work & education, I would recommend it to anyone who is eligible, and I think it's a great thing to do for your son! I've been able to work and live in Europe easily (and legally!) I definitely think it's worth any expense entailed to file & get the passport.

Edited to add: in regards to traveling within Europe - I never even pull my US passport out when traveling between countries. If you enter Europe on a EU passport, that's what you use the whole time. Reason being, there will be no entry stamp in the US passport. There will be zero problems with this. You only need to show the US passport at US immigration & passport control when entering the US. You MAY have to show it when checking in for your flight back to the US but I always check in for flights on the Europe side using my UK passport and rarely get asked (unless as mentioned above, I have a one-way ticket)

The only time I ever enter Europe on my US passport is if I am there for a short while & need to rent a car! Since I don't have an EU drivers license, I need to use my US license, and that is only legal if you are there on a tourist visa.

Edited September 19, 2015 by zyzzx

[theAustrianchick 0]

We've been quiet on the VisaJourney site for a while now, but my wife and I have been doing very well - in fact we had our first child almost a year ago (born in the U.S.). I am a U.S. citizen; she is still an Austrian citizen (but U.S. permanent resident). After much research, it appears our child can have citizenship of both the U.S. and Austria. (It sounds like the term "dual citizenship" may be incorrect, maybe "dual nationality" is better.) My wife and I are going to go to the Austrian embassy soon to get proof of Austrian citizenship for our son.

Snippet from the Austrian embassy's website:

www.austria.org/citizenship

In general, the Austrian Nationality Act does not allow dual citizenship except for persons who obtain two citizenships at the time they were born (e.g. a person born to Austrians living in the US acquires both Austrian and US citizenships at the time of birth).

Snippet from the U.S. State Dept's website:

http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/english/legal-considerations/us-citizenship-laws-policies/citizenship-and-dual-nationality/dual-nationality.html

A U.S. national may acquire foreign nationality by marriage, or a person naturalized as a U.S. national may not lose the nationality of the country of birth. U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one nationality or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another nationality does not risk losing U.S. nationality.

My questions:

1. My biggest concern was jeopardizing my son's U.S. citizenship by taking these steps for Austria, but from reviewing both the Austrian's and U.S.'s websites, it looks like we're good there? Unless he specifically renounces his U.S. citizenship or takes other deliberate steps, he can maintain his dual status? Anyone have experience with or against that understanding?

2. Also from reviewing travel websites:

Whenever he enters or leaves the U.S., show his U.S. passport (and while in the U.S., state he is a U.S. citizen).

Whenever he enters or leaves Austria, show his Austrian passport (and while in Austria, state he is an Austrian citizen living in the U.S.).

My wife's family is living in Germany, so we're more likely to visit Germany than Austria. Even though it is the European Union, I assume it is better to represent my son as a U.S. citizen when entering/leaving there?

3. Any other tips / advice for people having "dual nationality" children?

Thank you!

Hi,

Our family was in the same exact situation as you are. Dad US citizen, mom Austrian, kids born in the US.

You've received good info so far (and probably have already gotten an Austrian passport for your son by now), I just wanted to add that as a US citizen, by law, he will have to present his US passport upon entry into the US, just as, as Austrian citizen, he has to present his Austrian passport, by law, upon entry into the EU.

We moved back to Austria in 2005, when the kids were 4 and 6. Dad returned to US in 07. So, the kids have been traveling quite frequently between the two countries since then, for visitation. They always have to carry both their passports.

Citizens by birth (in our cases both US and Austrian) are dual citizens for life (regardless of if you have gotten the certificate), unless they specifically renounce one of them. The only exception is entry into military forces. If your son ever joins the US military, he will have to give up EU citizenship. Austria requires males to complete a period of mandatory military service after the age of 18. This would not present a problem regarding the US citizenship, because it could only be lost in case of voluntarily joining miltary forces of another country. I know this is far in the future for you, and laws can change until then, but it is something to keep in mind.